UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Oreo. The blue cue gets a look in 12-ball to begin the day and the round. Maplewood's Bryant couldn't get onto his shots very well in game 1, leaving a lot on the table despite receiving a wild card ball from Terrace City's Oreo early on. Oreo had a better time getting in position, and patient play earned her the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Knights' Oreo started well, but she couldn't make her defense hold up against a firm attack from the Lumberjacks' Bryant, who managed to get by at the end on the last two shots, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a lot like game 1, as Oreo held onto an early lead amid the adversity of bad position and a scratch. Bryant tried to make a late push, but Oreo paced her final shot well enough to win, taking the series lead back at 2-1. Game 4 went pretty even for the most part. Oreo got off to a slightly better start than Bryant, but she lacked positioning. Bryant nearly made a late run, but a scratch set him up for an even better set of shots. He couldn't convert this time either, and Oreo finished the game a couple of turns later, securing the series at 3-1. Game 5 saw an anticlimactic ending, as Oreo gave a wild card ball away to Bryant, who missed from ball-in-hand on his last ball. Oreo couldn't make her final two balls, and Bryant tapped in to win, making it a 3-2 series. Oreo advances to the bracket quarterfinals, the first player to do so.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Citrus. Two bright stars for the league clash in 15-ball, also with the blue cue. Harrison's Sydney had a quiet start in game 1, allowing Diamond's Citrus to pace play a bit more. The 15 remained near the bottom right for most of the game, and each player missed a combination chance before Sydney won on the 7-15 combination for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 also ended at the 7, as the Specters' Sydney put the 15 into a cluster near the 7 when shots were difficult to make. The Gems' Citrus kicked the cue and received a favorable judgement from the referee that the 7 was contacted before the 8, which bumped the 15 into the top right. Citrus' iffy win tied the series at 1. Citrus kept up the aggressive shooting early in game 3, making a couple of nice runs, including a three-ball stretch near the middle. Sydney pulled back into the game with a four-ball run near the end, but her miss on the 14 allowed Citrus to make the last two balls, putting her ahead 2-1 in the series with the win. Game 4 saw some of Citrus' patented possession play for the series, including a late four-ball run, but Citrus couldn't corral the 15 on two attempts, and it took Sydney three tries before she potted it to the top right on a kick, retying the series at 2. Game 5 saw Sydney start strong, Citrus make a late rally that fell short when she missed the 14 on a three-ball run, and then Sydney made the 15 on a cut to the bottom side for the 3-2 series win. Sydney will be on the road in her bracket quarterfinals series.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Twinkie I. After lunch, the silver cue makes its round debut in 8-ball. Game 1 started off with good shooting from Lighton's Twinkie I, but a late rally saw Everton's Puff III get first dibs on the 8. She left it short at the top side, and Twinkie I recovered to finish on a three-ball run-out for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead after Puff III couldn't close the game. The Eagles' Puff III took advantage of a weak break from the Prestige's Twinkie I, making a four-ball run early on. Twinkie I got a few shots back, but Puff III can thank a couple of lucky bounces for making it a convincing game 2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a much quicker exchange of shots, as each player had an early four-ball run. Twinkie I became discouraged when her defensive shape prevented another run, and Puff III broke through a few turns later on a three-ball run-out to win, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 went even better for Puff III, who got what she wanted from her break with a three-ball run that ended in a scratch. Twinkie I made a small counterattack, but Puff III would win on a six-ball run-out, clinching the series at 3-1 with the great positioning plays. Game 5 also favored Puff III, who took a bit more time to develop her shot, but closed with a five-ball run-out using good positioning again to get the win and a 4-1 series win. Puff III will host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Fluffina. Two feisty veterans clash in 10-ball with the blue cue as these teams develop a short-term rivalry. Maplewood's Fluffina had a clear edge in possession in game 1, scrapping with Terrace City's Oreo early on before making the last six balls in two turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo didn't do much better in game 2, weathering a firm attack from the Lumberjacks' Fluffina at first. Just as Oreo got her offense going, she scratched, and Fluffina converted a six-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, moving into a 2-0 series lead. Fluffina lost her dominant edge in game 3, looking vulnerable from break to finish. In fact, Oreo's better possession resulted in a well-earned win, as Fluffina missed on the 10 and Oreo put a spinning cut on it to the top right to cut the series to 2-1. Fluffina made the most of game 4 after the 4, making five of six balls to strike back at Oreo. The weak break disheartened Oreo, and Fluffina charged with her late rally to win, securing the series at 3-1. Fluffina had a lot of possession late in game 5 as well, but Oreo did better this time, pulling herself to victory on a cut after Fluffina missed her only chance at the 10. The series favored Fluffina 3-2, who will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Brownie. We're back to 12-ball for the blue cue in this series between players on new teams. Pronger's Zach got a ball on the break, but didn't have much to work with from there. Tysini's Brownie also had trouble producing offense, making it a close and slow game 1, until Brownie was judged to make illegal contact. Zach made his last two balls from ball-in-hand, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Hummingbirds' Brownie held on in game 2, avoiding a critical deficit by making her shots quickly and leaving the Tridents' Zach with bad positions. Zach had to turn to defense for awhile, and he nearly rallied back, but Brownie finished in time to get the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 looked to be favoring Brownie as well, but she couldn't get positioning on her final ball, and Zach established a smothering defense, enough to hold her off until he could tap in the defending ball for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 had Zach on the edge of clinching after Brownie removed his defense to give him a wild-card ball. Zach just missed on the 15 to the top left, and Brownie made her last two shots, tying the series again at 2 with her desperate win. In game 5, both players had a chance to win, but Brownie couldn't get positioned quickly enough, letting Zach off the hook for doubling on a pocket as he made his final ball. Zach got the win and a 3-2 series win, and he'll host the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Stealth. The silver cue comes back to play Rotation in this series. Golden's Charlton had to weather an early storm from Swordpoint's Stealth, who made a three-ball run on his first turn. Charlton swiftly replied, and then chipped her way to an 8-5 win as game 1 progressed, capitalizing on Stealth's mistakes to gain a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Blades' Stealth learn from his mistakes. Instead of letting up after an early burst, Stealth doubled down to bury the Pilots' Charlton with a massive lead. When Charlton missed on the 8, Stealth ended the game in an 8-2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 didn't allow for Stealth to maintain his initial lead, as Charlton pulled even before the two players tangled to the finish. Charlton ended up getting the better of it with an 8-7 win, giving her the 2-1 series lead. Stealth seemed entranced by his two straight miscues in game 4, allowing Charlton to pull ahead until she scratched. Stealth rallied back on a five-ball run, but couldn't finish the job, and Charlton sealed up the series at 3-1 with another 8-7 win. Game 5 saw Charlton dominate early on, amid a spate of scratches from Stealth, who would later rally twice to tie the game. Charlton got by on making the last ball for an 8-7 win and a 4-1 series win, and she advances to the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Cobalt. It's an All-Wolves series in this Accuracy battle, guaranteeing the team a spot in the next round. Prism got away with a bold break that made two balls, as Cobalt hung on for awhile before missing three in a row late in the game. Prism stayed true to win 1-4, missing only once in the middle for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Prism didn't have as great a beak or a game in general in game 2, but Cobalt couldn't take advantage, trading misses early on. By the time Cobalt fell behind, there wasn't enough time for him to rally back, and Prism locked her shot in for a 2-3 win and 2-0 series lead. For a player facing a knockout, Cobalt didn't play very well in game 3. His early misses stacked up when he got desperate late in the game, and Prism was able to hold him off and win 2-6 to secure the series at 3-0. Prism had a much tougher battle in game 4, as Cobalt held close even after a late scratch, instead of letting his misses balloon. Prism had a late miss that forced the game into overtime, but Cobalt couldn't get anything on the break and Prism converted to the top left for a 2-3 win and 4-0 series lead. Prism dominated in game 5, keeping it clean in an 0-2 shutout to complete the 5-0 sweep on Cobalt. Prism advances to the bracket quarterfinals with a massive head of steam.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. B. Chapman. The day closes where it started, with the red cue making its only appearance today in Accuracy. Victoria's Chapman held a bit steadier in game 1 than did Maplewood's Bryant, who stayed even at first only to suffer a late collapse. Chapman brought the game to an end with a 3-6 win, good for her to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit better for the Lumberjacks' Bryant, as he controlled the pace of the game after an early miss from the Spurs' Chapman. Bryant briefly fell into a tie, but Chapman couldn't hold her ground, and Bryant would ride off with a 3-5 win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Bryant took a turn toward perfection, leaving Chapman behind as she spread a few misses in the game. Bryant made a couple of tough shots to keep the game going, winning 0-3 to earn a 2-1 series lead and the late-series advantage. Chapman followed up with a much better game 4, keeping Bryant at bay long enough to grab the 1-2 win and tie the series at 2 after a very competitive stanza of play. Bryant had a tough battle in game 5, as Chapman held the lead for much of the game. In desperation, Bryant left Chapman with poor shots late, and it worked, forcing overtime, where Chapman had one more miss to gift Bryant a 6-7 win. Bryant took the series 3-2, and will host his bracket quarterfinals series.
That's it for the first day of the round, a general but not overwhelming success. We'll be back with more tomorrow, commentated live on Twitter
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