We're back for the last day before an expected day or two off. We begin today's session with...
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Pounce. The red cue makes the first appearance today, used in 8-ball. Southern's Pounce nearly shut Victoria's Sage out in game 1, but his inability to recover from a scratch would hurt down the line. Sage had a four-ball run and a three-ball run, and eventually made the 8 as well, coming all the way back for a win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Sage struck on the break in game 2, and while the Monarchs' Pounce had a few good shots, Sage put in a better effort this time, winning on a three-ball run-out that saw her kick the 8 to the top right to clinch the series at 2-0. Sage had a tougher time after a lousy break to lead off in game 3. Pounce kept defensive pressure on Sage, but he couldn't built a run after letting the defense lapse, and Sage took the last two shots for the win. Sage swept the series 3-0 to get to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Katelynn v. Precious. A returning veteran meets a captain in Rotation with the silver cue. Both players had strong starts in game 1, with Lighton's Katelynn getting a ball on the break while Pronger's Precious pulled ahead with a couple of nice kick shots. Katelynn made a comeback, but Precious shut it down, winning 8-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Katelynn was a bit slower in game 2, and she could not afford to make that mistake, as the Tridents' Precious rallied faster on a six-ball run-out, winning 8-2 to clinch the series at 2-0. Katelynn erupted for a five-ball run on her second turn in game 3, answering a four-ball run from Precious. This led to a close finish, as Precious would tie the game but miss on the 15, leaving Katelynn with the 8-7 win on a tap-in. Precious gets to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Bandit. The blue cue steps in for its first series today, in 12-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot made a three-ball run from the break, but he had trouble with his late positioning, giving Swordpoint's Bandit the time to make a comeback. Bandit sealed the deal with a pair of shots on his last turn, taking the series lead at 1-0. The Blades' Bandit played a bit unconventionally in game 2, scratching after claiming stripes on the break. The Meteors' Hoot would come close to a win with a four-ball run, but his quest for positioning failed, and Bandit made a late pair to win. Bandit secured the series at 2-0. Hoot had an advantage in game 3, as Bandit gave Hoot a wild-card ball on the break. Hoot took full advantage, keeping good positioning with an early three-ball run and taking his final shot from ball-in-hand when Bandit faltered. Bandit still won the series 2-1, heading off to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Avril Lavigne. The blue cue gets another look in 12-ball before the lunch break for the day. Southern's Avril received a massive gift of two wild-card balls on the break, as Commerce's Lionel found himself in a tough position. Avril added a three-ball run, and won a turn after that when Lionel had no answer for her attack. Avril leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Avril had a good start in game 2, attacking quite well, but she had a couple of errors, leading to the Tradewinds' Lionel making four balls over two turns. Lionel had a chance to win, but he missed contact on his last ball, and Avril made her last shot from ball-in-hand, sealing the series at 2-0. Avril gave away a wild-card ball to help accelerate game 3, but it didn't give Lionel much, as his defense on the top left gave way late and Avril took the win for a 3-0 series sweep. Avril confidently finds her way to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Avril Lavigne. The visitor completes a road doubleheader in 7-ball with the silver cue, a battle between rookies. After a few early misses, the rookies figured things out in game 1. Southern's Avril took the 1 on her second try, but Terrace City's Quincy soon replied with a six-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy still had a lot of offense in game 2, but he didn't find a big run anywhere in the game, and the Monarchs' Avril took advantage of his late miss to pot the 7 on a straight shot to the bottom right. Avril's good finish tied the series at 1. Quincy got a bit lucky in game 3, lacking possession early on as Avril controlled the start, but picking up power late and making the 7 on a two-rail bank after missing at the bottom side but watching it drop in the bottom left for the win. Quincy claimed the series 2-1, heading to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Spice. The silver cue stays up for Rotation between two tenured captains. Atlantic's Delila did pretty well in game 1, using defensive maneuvers effectively to frustrate and stall Victoria's Spice. In the end, Delila picked up a pair of shots to win 8-2, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice adopted a similar strategy in game 2, turning the tables as the Pirates' Delila rarely got a clear look at her shots. Spice had a late three-ball run that Delila countered partially, but Spice sealed the win at 8-4 to tie the series at 1. Delila and Spice engaged in a close and competitive game 3, with many exchanges of the lead occurring before Spice finally capped it at 8-6 after Delila's jump attempt failed. Spice took the series 2-1, and will travel to Pronger to clash with Tridents captain Precious in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Avril Lavigne v. Stinky. The Monarchs rookie plays her third out of the last four series against a Cascades veteran in 9-ball with the red cue. Southern's Avril nearly got the 9 on the break in game 1, but after a congested start, she executed a three-ball run-out with a 4-9 combination to the top right to beat Freedom's Stinky for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky had a more dominant effort in game 2, making a five-ball run on his first turn and a three-ball run-out after that, ending on the 8-9 combination to the top right to tie the series at 1 as the Monarchs' Avril couldn't get herself going this time. Avril had to go the distance in game 3, but she had all of the late momentum, riding a four-ball run-out to beat Stinky this time for the 2-1 series win. Avril's strong finish gets another of her bids in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Kyle. A tough series lies ahead for the rookie host, as she plays 12-ball with the red cue. Queens' Kyle was never in doubt as the game 1 winner, getting a quick start and playing patiently, while Pronger's Lize tried to stay defensive as she dealt with limited force on her shots. Kyle eventually made his last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Kyle was a bit too generous in game 2, giving away three wild-card balls to the Tridents' Lize, an advantage she could cash in on even with her injury. She made the 5 to the bottom right to finish her win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Lize again used a soft break in game 3, but she found a little more strength late in a competitive game, and she made Kyle pay for giving away a wild-card ball. Her defensive posture held long enough for her to make her final ball, winning the game and the series 2-1. Lize is into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Gizmo v. Taylor Swift. The silver cue gets a taste of 12-ball in this emotionally charged series. Eastside's Gizmo did pretty well against the player he replaced for his team, suffocating the offense of Commerce's Taylor in game 1. Gizmo played patiently at the end and tapped in the 4 at the top left to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players quickly take the bottom edge's pockets, and then engage in a short-lived defensive stand-off on the top edge. The Tradewinds' Taylor attacked first, but she gave away a wild-card ball that the Sharks' Gizmo promptly gave back. This proved strategic, as Gizmo got perfect positioning for a three-ball run-out on his next turn, securing the series at 2-0 with his win. Gizmo kept the pressure up even as Taylor made a four-ball run in game 3. She gave a wild-card ball at the end, and Gizmo made his last two balls from ball-in-hand for the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Gizmo emphatically enters the bid in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Blizzard. A promising sophomore meets a regressing veteran in Rotation with the red cue. Everton's Blizzard had a perfectly good five-ball run on her first turn, but Oceanside's Dewey replied with a seven-ball run to take the lead. Shaken, Blizzard scratched, and Dewey took the 12 from ball-in-hand, winning 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Dewey couldn't piece together a big run this time, instead playing a choppier style. The Eagles' Blizzard kept up with him at first, and she tied it again late, but Dewey made the last two balls for an 8-6 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Dewey had the initial lead in game 3, and he wasn't playing poorly despite a rough break, but Blizzard pulled out a six-ball run-out to win 8-4, salvaging a game in the 2-1 series that put Dewey through to the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Solaris. The blue cue gets a look this time, as a rookie meets a sophomore in 8-ball. Swordpoint's Jason had better pace in game 1, easily potting a few short runs. Infinity's Solaris couldn't avoid a late scratch, and Jason would win two turns later with a kick on the 8 to the bottom left, good for his 1-0 lead in the series. The Torpedoes' Solaris redeemed himself with a quick four-ball run in game 2. The Blades' Jason responded on a three-ball run to keep the game even for a bit, but Solaris took over in the end and got the win, tying the series at 1. Solaris had some offense going in response to Jason's first turn in game 3, but a cut shot went all wrong, and Solaris illegally potted the 8. The gifted game gave Jason the series at 2-1, and he'll be hosting the North Modernistic Nighthawks in their second round series.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Anton. A strong veteran hosts a surprising rookie in 12-ball with the blue cue for the last series for awhile. Freedom's Jasmine didn't start that well against Todavía's Anton after picking up a minor injury before game 1, but she rallied late and forced him into a defensive stance. Anton couldn't make it hold, and Jasmine took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Anton again wasted all his good play early on in game 2, and he had no defense in place for the three-ball run-out assembled by the Cascades' Jasmine at the end. Jasmine's strong play secured the series at 2-0 in her favor. Anton finally had a breakthrough in game 3, holding the defensive positioning to stymie Jasmine. The series ended 2-1 for Jasmine, who will host the Southern Monarchs rookie Avril in the second round.
That's all for today. More than likely, tomorrow will be an off-day across at least Tournament play.
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