We're back after some mixed play last week to try for some normal days this week. We begin with...
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Twinkie I. The blue cue gets the first look in 8-ball for today's action. Pacific's Twinkie I survived an early surge from Whitewater's Marsell in game 1, rallying with a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after illegal contact from Marsell. Twinkie I took a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell held on a bit better in game 2, getting a fortunate bounce when the Volcanoes' Twinkie I couldn't complete a game-ending run. Marsell picked up the 8 on a bank to the top left to get the win, tying the series at 1. Marsell overcame a bad break in game 3, battling evenly among a couple of clusters that ended up hurting Twinkie I more. Twinkie I had a chance to pick up the win late, but she missed her last solid, and Marsell cleared the 8 to take the series at 2-1. Marsell heads to the second round with this series win.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Misty. The silver cue gets a look now in 7-ball in the second series of the day. Archtown's Dusky didn't have the best break in game 1, and Westside's Misty kept herself involved in the game, but Dusky made the last two shots to scrape out a win for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty had a larger share of the possession in game 2, with a three-ball run after the Arrows' Dusky erred, and then Misty added the last two balls to get the win. This late push helped Misty tie the series at 1. Dusky had a three-ball run early in game 3, but she couldn't get a look on the 4, and Misty took over for a four-ball run-out, taking the win and the 2-1 series win all at once. Misty earned herself a trip to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Neopolitan. The red cue gets its turn now, administering this 8-ball series. Atlantic's Klaus had a tricky game 1, getting a ball on the break but not much else early on. Pearl's Neopolitan didn't take full advantage of her opportunities, and Klaus rallied back, using his opponent's ball to prevent a scratch as he made the 8 to the top left for the win. Klaus leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a bit of a struggle for the Pirates' Klaus early on, but the Surfers' Neopolitan had a late three-ball run end on a miss on the 8, and Klaus mopped up two shots to clinch the series at 2-0. Klaus' big highlight in a surprisingly difficult game 3 was a four-ball run that got him set for a long tap-in on the 8 on his next turn. Neopolitan struggled to counter Klaus in this game, and Klaus gladly took the win to sweep the series 3-0.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Katharine McPhee. The red cue stays in action for this Rotation series. Whitewater's Katharine took control of game 1 early on with a four-ball run, and while Commerce's Niki chipped back, her scratch on the 10 allowed Katharine to make a pair of balls late for an 8-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine played a bit more aggressively in game 2, leading to a slower start. She did get a nice lead on an early run, and the Tradewinds' Niki pulled back when Katharine had a scratch. Niki had trouble with errors, allowing Katharine to dominate late in the game for an 8-3 win and 2-0 series lead. Niki made herself a bit more difficult to battle in game 3, but Katharine didn't seem fazed by it, pulling out a late run to get the 8-5 win. Katharine swept the series 3-0 to advance to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Chris. Two strong veterans with some clout meet in 9-ball, another series played with the red cue. Terrace City's Oreo had an eight-ball run on her second turn, but she twice missed bank attempts on the 9, and Capital City's Chris converted the 9 on his second try to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo took back what she thought she should have had with a quick two-turn win in game 2. She made the 1-9-7 combination to the top right after a scratch by the Sharpshooters' Chris, and then added the 1-9 combination for the win, tying the series at 1. Oreo had two balls on the break and nearly added a 1-8-9 combination on the next shot in game 3, but she left the 9 on the edge of the top right. Chris tried to make the 1 at the bottom left, but rattled it out perfectly across the table to tap the 9 in for the win and the 2-1 series win that gets him to the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Strut. The silver cue returns to action for a 10-ball series between veterans. Southern's Pounce seemed to have a pretty strong grip on game 1, making a few short runs. Golden's Strut lacked much, if any, offense until he tapped the 10 in after a failed kick attempt by Pounce. The late plot twist gave Strut a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a lot more even for the Pilots' Strut, and that increase in possession helped him look more confident as he plucked the 10 late to secure the series at 2-0 over the Monarchs' Pounce. Game 3 saw a good start from Strut, some push-back from Pounce later on, and then Strut surging forward at the end to take the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Strut is through to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Noelle. A sophomore and a veteran meet in 8-ball with the blue cue. Central's Noelle had a good start in game 1, but she seemed to falter mid-game, and Atlantic's Isabella pushed close to the finish. Noelle stormed back with a four-ball run, and then made two more shots late, taking the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle skipped the hot start in game 2, and went straight to a rally later on with a seven-ball run. This surprised the Pirates' Isabella, but it didn't stop the host from a three-ball run-out on the counterattack to take the win and tie the series at 1, as Noelle's collateral damage during the run came back to haunt her. Game 3 started a bit slowly, as Isabella's break left a lot of small clusters. Isabella had to make a big run to establish herself, and while Noelle produced a counterattack, Isabella held her off to get the win. Isabella made it to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Wario. A rookie hosts a sophomore as the blue cue stays up for Rotation in the Tournament's 200th series. Queens' Briana built up quite the lead in game 1 before Victoria's Wario could get a clean shot. Wario didn't get much on it, and Briana ran away to an 8-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played out in a much longer and uglier fashion. The Spurs' Wario took a lead early on after futility from both players, but the Flames' Briana erased the lead. Between the missed shots and wasted turns, Briana pulled ahead, only for Wario to scratch on the last ball in a tie game. Briana converted, winning 8-7 to clinch the series at 2-0. Wario accelerated his offense in game 3, to great success, as his first lead didn't hold up against Briana, but a three-ball run-out at the end gave him an 8-5 win. Briana still takes a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Bianca. The blue cue remains in action again for 7-ball. Capital City's Lorde suffered through a slow start to game 1, but erupted for a five-ball run-out on her third turn to stun Southridge's Bianca with a glancing shot off the 5 that sent the 7 to the top right. Lorde leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Bianca made the first and last pair of balls in game 2, and avoided a scratch on the latter pair to beat the Sharpshooters' Lorde, who saw her three-ball run go to waste this time. Bianca tied the series at 1 with this win. Bianca had a four-ball run early in game 3, and then added a late pair to get the win after Lorde couldn't make much of a counterattack. Bianca took the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Wario. Strongmen meet in 9-ball with the silver cue. Victoria's Wario brought game 1 to a stunningly fast close on his first turn, tapping in the 1 that evaded the pocket on Jack's break for Web City. Wario then followed with a surprising 2-9 combination cut to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack, working with no safety net in game 2, paced the game well, but his kick try on the 6 backfired, and he illegally potted the 9 in the bottom left instead, gifting the win to the Spurs' Wario, who secured the series at 2-0 as well. Game 3 had the appearance of neither player truly caring about the outcome. In the end, Wario tapped the 9 in from ball-in-hand after Jack missed it on a kick attempt. Wario swept the series 3-0 to reach the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Potter. The blue cue is back in this series between Outcast club-mates, used for 12-ball. Pronger's Potter had a tough start to game 1, watching Oceanside's Josie assemble a three-ball run. Potter stayed resilient, building his own short bursts later in the game to pick up the win after Josie removed her defense. Potter's crafty comeback put him up 1-0 in the series. The Tridents' Potter tried to work with stripes in game 2, but he had a difficult time getting aligned on his later shots, and he removed his defense too early, allowing the Waves' Josie to storm in for the win on a late pair of shots at the left corners. This tied the series at 1. Josie made a ball on the break in game 3, but it didn't work out, as Potter surged forward quickly and got himself established. Josie lost shooting control late in the game, and Potter, despite giving away a wild-card ball, easily took the win to secure the series at 2-1 in his favor. Potter will play on in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Briana Livilotti. A rookie in her second series today visits a veteran for Accuracy with the red cue. Queens' Briana had a slow start and a shaky finish, but she managed to force Web City's Shiny into more misses in the middle of the game. Briana held on at the end for a 2-3 win to take the series lead at 1-0. The Spiders' Shiny benefited from a fast pace of play in game 2, which saw three separate double-pots. Two of those were by the Flames' Briana, and it backfired when she started missing late in the game. Shiny pinned her in and won 2-4, tying the series at 1 to set up a decisive finale for the day. Shiny kept up her offense in game 3, attacking just right and making Briana pay for turning to the double-pot again. Shiny once again forced Briana's hand late in the game, good for a 1-3 win and 2-1 series win that sees Shiny make the second round.
That's all for this game day. We've got the rest of Select Week 12 tomorrow morning, and a new day of Tournament action in the afternoon.
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