By the end of the day, we should know every player who will compete for medals in the B-level Finals. We have 12 series today to wrap up the individual brackets, beginning with...
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Starlight. Two of Reality's finest meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Game 1 lasted only one shot, as Boston's Puff II initially felt joy for starting the game with a triple-pot that sent the 14 and 15 to the bottom right and the 3 to the top right. This was shattered when the 8 bumped the cue into the bottom left, giving Pacific's Starlight the early win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 took much longer to get done, as the shooting was not great in the middle of the game. Both players created defensive positions, prolonging the game. In the end, the Swifts' Puff II had a three-ball run that the Volcanoes' Starlight couldn't answer, and Puff II banked the 15 to the bottom left to win, tying the series at 1. Starlight had the better of play in game 3, but it left her when she needed it most, and Puff II came up with a three-ball run-out in the end to win the series 2-1. Puff II felt every emotion to get to the finals, with an 8-4 record on the bracket to go with her.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Americus. The blue cue gets a look at 7-ball in this series. Harrison's Twinkie II played a much better game 1 than did Atlantic's Americus, with the latter making light or no contact multiple times. This allowed Twinkie II to dictate play, and resulted in Twinkie II's final shot on the 7, a tap-in to win and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Americus had a lot more influence in game 2, and the Specters' Twinkie II couldn't respond effectively. Twinkie II's misses on the 3 and 5 opened the door for Americus, who would get the win on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was likely the cleanest game on both sides, which saw Twinkie II prevail on a four-ball run-out for the win, giving her a 2-1 series win as well. Twinkie II advances to the finals after going 8-4 on the bracket.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Twinkie I. Steady veterans are set to meet in 15-ball with the silver cue. Freedom's Jasmine played well early on, and had many of the short runs, but Lighton's Twinkie I held her own for much of the time and struck back in the end with a three-ball run-out, doing enough for Twinkie I to earn the 1-0 series lead and a win. The Prestige's Twinkie I kept up her play in the early stages of game 2, but the Cascades' Jasmine had a big surprise in store. Jasmine cultivated a remarkable ten-ball run-out, the second longest of the Tournament, to get the win with remarkable execution and pace on her shots. The big comeback tied the series at 1. Game 3 was a very balanced battle between the players, as neither could get much of a run going. In the end, Jasmine had a three-ball run that just left the 15 near the top right, but Twinkie I had to take a kick to get a good angle, and she left it standing for Jasmine to make. Jasmine won the series 2-1, and took the bracket 9-3 as she heads off to the finals, with a direct line to the final round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Midnight. The Tradewinds captain welcomes a former teammate in a blue cue Accuracy grudge match. Westside's Midnight kept pace with Commerce's Tigerette in a tense start to the game, but Midnight held her ground when the misses began, and Tigerette faltered, allowing Midnight to clamp down for a 1-3 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a similar failure from the Tradewinds' Tigerette late in the game, but the Rockers' Midnight also had a late miss, forcing overtime. Midnight then scratched on the break to lead off the overtime, and Tigerette ended with a 3-4 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw another tight battle, but Midnight was able to force Tigerette into a tie while saving herself on the second-to-last ball. Tigerette's overtime break was lackluster, and Midnight tapped a shot in to win 2-3 and take the series 2-1. Midnight is 8-4 on the bracket as she heads to the final against Wario in Victoria's Sprint Hall, with the winner of that facing the Central Warriors' Twilight on the road.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Shannon. The other half of a venue doubleheader is in Rotation with the red cue. Commerce's Lionel excelled in game 1 from the break, but things got stagnant after he built up a lead. Southern's Shannon erased the lead with a five-ball run, and won two turns later 9-5 when she double-potted the 12 to the bottom left and 13 to the bottom right for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shannon had a lead early in game 2, and while the Tradewinds' Lionel stayed in close range early on, Shannon pulled away to an 8-4 win in the end, taking the series at 2-0 as well. Frustration peaked in game 3, as Shannon couldn't hold a lead and Lionel couldn't pull ahead when he caught up. Shannon eventually got the 8-7 win to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Shannon heads into the finals with a 10-2 record from the bracket, placing her in the final series already.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Max. The silver cue is back in action for this series of 8-ball between steady veterans. Queens' Max began with a three-ball run, answered quickly by Roxy's four-ball run for Freedom, but it was the end that brought fascination. Roxy thought she was doomed with a stick foul that turned into a scratch, but Max illegally potted the 8 to give Roxy the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy had to try to come from behind in game 2, and while she put in a good effort, the Flames' Max held her off just long enough to make his final shots, winning the game to tie the series at 1 with a much cleaner finish this time. Max did everything in game 3, making a six-ball run from the break that ended in heartache when he illegally potted the 8 alongside the 9 after bumping the 2. Roxy never sank the 8 but won the series 2-1, and her record on the bracket is 10-2, a good mark to take to the finals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Midnight. The red cue is up for three straight, beginning with 9-ball. Archtown's Sally didn't play her best in game 1, but Westside's Midnight was off a bit too. This led to a very choppy ending to the game, with Midnight rattling the 9 out of the bottom right, and Sally making it in the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Midnight ended up on the right end of game 2, which was another difficult game for both her and the Arrows' Sally. In the end, Midnight made the final two shots in a row to get the win, tying the series at 1 as Sally's run never developed. Game 3 went surprisingly quick, as Midnight made a five-ball run from the break, but the 6 wouldn't fall for her. This worked out well for Sally, who finished the game in a four-ball run-out for the win and a 2-1 series win. Sally will be on the road against the Diamond Gems' Citrus in the preliminary round after going 8-4 on the bracket, and the winner faces the Central Warriors' Dustin.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Bells. The red cue stays on for a series of 7-ball between a rookie and a veteran. Neither player could make a run develop in game 1, keeping things close throughout. It came down to a missed long-distance straight shot by Todavía's Bells that stayed lined up for Pronger's Spot to bury on his chance for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit more smoothly, as the Tridents' Spot nearly made the 7 on the break but scratched as it stood at the top left. The Stills' Bells had a close call of her own, as her banked shot on the 3 went by the 7 but didn't connect, and she too scratched, setting Spot up to win with a four-ball run-out that ended with a glance off the 6 to legally pot the 7. Spot secured the series at 2-0 with this win. Bells came up big in game 3, refusing to allow Spot a sweep. Spot ended a three-ball run a bit too early, and Bells made the final two shots for the win, making it a 2-1 series for Spot. For the whole bracket, Spot was 8-4 to get to the finals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Niki. A hotshot rookie faces a tough sophomore in 12-ball with the red cue. Southridge's Stephanie had a good break, but it led to a four-ball run for Eastside's Niki. Stephanie shot back with a three-ball run before defense took hold, and it was here where Stephanie prevailed, maneuvering effectively around Niki to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Sharks' Niki needed only three turns to pick up the win, helped a lot by favorable shooting positions and the Defenders' Stephanie showing none of her shot-making abilities. Niki's cruise to the win tied the series at 1. Niki gave away a wild-card ball on the break of game 3, which looked like it could work while she held her defense, but immediately became an anchor when she shot the defense down. Stephanie sent a three-ball run in right after that, and won on the next turn with good positioning for the 2-1 series win. Stephanie rides a 9-3 record from the bracket to the finals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Violetta. Outcast club members meet in 7-ball with the silver cue. Atlantic's Klaus got right down to business in game 1, working a three-ball run from the break. Queens' Violetta seemed comfortable in the middle of the game, but it didn't amount to much, and Klaus won by making the last two balls for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta had only one turn in game 2, which was a miss on the 1, wasting her advantage after the Pirates' Klaus had scratched. Klaus made the 1 the second time around, and then buried the 7 to the bottom right after a deflection off the 2, giving him the 2-0 series lead with the win. Klaus was even faster in game 3, making the 4 to the top right and the 7 to the bottom side on the break to secure a 3-0 series sweep over Violetta. Klaus' sweep sends him to the finals with a 9-3 record from the bracket, good enough for him to go to the final round directly, awaiting the winner of Spot and Twinkie II.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Chris. Southwestern captains duel in 12-ball while using the blue cue. Capital City's Chris started game 1 very well, but he would need more time to get set up after Infinity's Smudge burst forward with a four-ball run. Smudge did not allow that, instead making her final shot for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the players exchange three-ball runs in the middle of the game, but the Sharpshooters' Chris could only watch, powerless against the defensive might of the Torpedoes' Smudge, who would make her final two shots on her next turn to nab the win and secure the series at 2-0. Chris did enough to force a rare replay in game 3, as Smudge's struggles to make her final ball led to Chris imposing defense and eventually earning the drawn result. In the replay, Chris used strong defensive positioning to eventually turn the tide in his favor, giving him a win but Smudge took the series 2-1. Smudge advances to the finals on an 8-4 record after an odd series.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Bianca. The final series in the bracket stages is 8-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Lexi made a ball on the break, but couldn't develop a run, making it all the more frustrating for her to see Southridge's Bianca go off on an eight-ball run-out, making every single ball in one turn as the rookie leads the series 1-0 with the win. The Defenders' Bianca didn't come close to matching her game 1 effort in game 2, as her runs were much choppier and she let the Specters' Lexi back into the game. Lexi took advantage of favorable positions, working a three-ball run over the middle before nearly throwing the game. She would tap-in the 8 a turn later than expected, winning to tie the series at 1. Lexi needed only three turns in a dominant game 3, making a five-ball run on the middle turn and a three-ball run-out after Bianca couldn't get her offense going. Lexi won the series 2-1 and went 8-4 on the bracket as the last player to punch a ticket to the finals.
The B-level Finals will be conducted on Sunday, where 24 players will enter and only 8 will be holding gold in the end. Cricket will likely be played between now and then, and hopefully with a post to go with it.
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