Tournament play continues in the early going today. First up...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Celestia. Former club-mates meet in 9-ball with the red cue to lead off the day. Everton's Puff III got off to a good start with a four-ball run from the break, which Oceanside's Celestia quickly matched. Celestia just missed on the 9, and Puff III made it to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the offense slow dramatically, but the Eagles' Puff III still managed to eke out a win as the Waves' Celestia struggled to make an impact. Puff III secured the series at 2-0 with the victory. Puff III made an early pair in game 3, and Celestia matched it, but Puff III then double-potted the 5 to the bottom right and the 9 to the top side for the win. Puff III swept the series 3-0 and will visit Zach of the Pronger Tridents in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Noelle. The red cue stays up for 7-ball between two sneaky-good veterans. Capital City's Missy didn't find success in tight spaces in game 1, but Central's Noelle also struggled, and Missy made two wide-open shots for the win in the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy drained four balls on the game 2 break, putting the 1 and 5 in the top side, the 2 in the top right, and the 7 in the bottom right for the win, stunning the Warriors' Noelle by quickly clinching the series at 2-0. Missy continued to dominate the offense in game 3, winning in three turns while scoring five balls over the final two while Noelle, clearly flustered, suffered the 3-0 series sweep. Missy will meet the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Princess in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Ice Cream. The blue cue gets a look in 13-ball with this series. Southern's Pounce started well, then scratched, giving Boston's Ice Cream a chance to attack. Ice Cream ran out of positioning plays, and Pounce put the 8 on the edge of the top right, making it on the next turn when Ice Cream failed to make a miracle run. Pounce leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Pounce started game 2 with a five-ball run from the break, and he needed only two shots on the final turn to end the game victorious after the Swifts' Ice Cream missed on her lone, desperate shot. Pounce sealed the series dominantly at 2-0. Pounce started with a four-ball run in game 3, but left the side pockets open, and that allowed Ice Cream to make it close. Ice Cream potted her final ball on illegal contact, buying Pounce just enough time to make the last two shots for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Pounce looks ready for a deep run, next facing Potter of the Pronger Tridents in round two.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Shaggy. A captains' battle is set for 8-ball with the red cue. Central's Twilight had a lot of the early offense, but a four-ball run from Whitewater's Shaggy put her ahead, and she eventually potted the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead after game 1. Game 2 saw both players virtually at their best, with the Shores' Shaggy making a four-ball run from the break, the Warriors' Twilight answering with her own four-ball run, and then Shaggy winning on a crisp four-ball run-out. Shaggy's win confirmed her series win at 2-0. Twilight put together a hard-fought win in game 3, allowing Shaggy to do a bit of offense but never allowing the visitor to catch up. Shaggy settled for a 2-1 series win that pits her against her mate, the Diamond Gems' Shadow, in round two.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Princess. Coastal rivals meet in 10-ball with the red cue. Oceanside's Josie started with a three-ball run in game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Princess answered with a pair and a three-ball run-out on her two turns, deflecting the cue off the 9 to pot the 10 at the top right for the win. Princess leads the series 1-0. The offense continued to be fast and choppy, with the Meteors' Princess taking herself out of position on the 10 to end a three-ball run, only for the Waves' Josie to make a tough cut for the win, tying the series at 1. Josie completed the comeback in game 3, leaving the 10 near the bottom right from the break. Princess never had a clear angle on it, but Josie banked the 7-10 combination in for the win and 2-1 series win. Josie will oppose Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Vladimir in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Precious. Two veterans entrenched with their teams meet in 9-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Precious had a five-ball run in the middle of game 1, but Boston's Puff II surrounded it in with pairs of shots on each of her two turns. Puff II came up with the win and a 1-0 series lead in a fast game. The Tridents' Precious hounded the 9 on her two turns, using the 1 in combination for the quick win as the Swifts' Puff II couldn't stop her visitor's attack. Precious tied the series at 1. Precious fired off a four-ball run early in game 3, but Puff II capitalized on Precious' late scratch, making a pair of shots for the win. Puff II took the series 2-1 and will visit North Modernistic Nighthawks sophomore Gal in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Nibbles. The blue cue remains in action for this tough 8-ball series. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles managed a four-ball run early on, but Victoria's Yekaterina answered with a slow-build attack, doing just enough to steal the win after Nibbles flubbed a third try at the 8. Yekaterina leads the series 1-0. Game 2 also saw some struggles, as the Spurs' Yekaterina got a case of the scratches while the Meteors' Nibbles couldn't sink anything. Yekaterina snapped out of it, banking the 8 to the top side for the win eventually, which secured the series for her at 2-0. Nibbles didn't go empty in game 3, as Yekaterina needed a five-ball run just to make it close. Nibbles then put the 8 away for the win. Yekaterina settled for a 2-1 series win, and will travel to Royal to meet the Crowns captain Nightfur in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Sugar v. Twinkie II. The host makes her debut with a new team in 12-ball with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Sugar took solids on the break, and just outran Harrison's Twinkie II to the top left for the final shot. Sugar's late surge propelled her to a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Blades' Sugar had the edge in game 2 as well, as the Specters' Twinkie II couldn't find a good position to work with. Sugar then had her three-ball run-out line up easily just a turn after converting a pair of shots. Sugar sealed the series at 2-0 with the win. Sugar didn't have as much fortune in game 3, giving Twinkie II an early wild-card ball. Twinkie II gladly made use of it in her win, leaving Sugar with nowhere to shoot by the end with effective defense. Sugar won the series 2-1 and will match up with Westside Rockers captain Misty in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Starlight. Another captains' battle goes today in Accuracy with the blue cue. Pacific's Starlight kept the game close at all times, but missed on the last ball, bailing out Atlantic's Delila, who blew three earlier leads before winning 3-4 for the 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila made three balls on the break in game 2, but she ran out of offense at the end, missing a lot later on. The Volcanoes' Starlight finally took a lead and made it stand, winning 2-4 to tie the series at 1. Delila fell apart throughout game 3, missing too many shots to stay competitive. Starlight easily won by a 1-6 score, helping her advance with a 2-1 series win. Starlight will face Cleo of the Everton Eagles in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Bandit. The red cue is back for 15-ball between younger players. Todavía's Prism was the first to break the funk in game 1, storming to the finish with force and besting Swordpoint's Bandit for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Prism was a little better early on in game 2, but a little worse at the end. The Blades' Bandit scratched, but then took the win when Prism also scratched. Bandit's win tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw the two players both fade a bit, leading to a choppy battle. Bandit pulled in a three-ball run near the end, but he missed the 15, and Prism put it away for the win and 2-1 series win. Prism will take on Vladimir of the Stonebridge Wolves in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Hoot. The blue cue takes another turn, playing 10-ball between players that are heavily relied upon by their teams. Southridge's Bianca had a four-ball run on her second turn and a pair of shots at the end to overwhelm a three-ball run from Viewpoint Sound's Hoot. Bianca's win gave her a 1-0 series lead. Possession splits evenly in game 2, with the Defenders' Bianca leading early with a three-ball run, only to later miss the 10. The Meteors' Hoot converted it for the win to tie the series at 1. Hoot made quick work of game 3, getting a ball on the break and then potting the 3 and 10 to the right corners for a four-ball run-out without Bianca ever stepping to the table. Hoot's 2-1 series win sets him up to face Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Strawberry. The red cue cycles back in for Accuracy between these veterans. Two scratches doomed Infinity's Mr. Snowman in game 1, as Victoria's Strawberry avoided similar mistakes and emerged with a 2-3 win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman did what he could in an ugly game 2 battle, forcing the Spurs' Strawberry into a few late misses. Mr. Snowman then held on and finished on a bank to the bottom side to win 5-6 to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was also close, but mostly because Mr. Snowman refused to yield until the very end, and then he buried the final ball to the top left to win 1-2. Mr. Snowman took the series 2-1 and will face the Pronger Tridents' Zach in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Twinkie I. The blue cue steps up again for 10-ball. Pacific's Twinkie I didn't have many clear chances on offense, and Commerce's Niki only needed one, potting the 3 and deflecting the 10 into the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I broke the slump in game 2 with a five-ball run, but she missed twice on the 9. The Tradewinds' Niki capitalized late with a pair of shots for the win, clinching the series at 2-0 despite not playing her best. Twinkie I dominated the offense with numerous runs in game 3, salvaging a win away from Niki, who ended up advancing with a 2-1 series win. Niki will visit Midland Predators rookie Kitty in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Briana v. Andrew. A sophomore takes on a rookie in Accuracy with the blue cue to end the day. The youngsters did as well as possible, as it took missed contact by Central's Andrew to put a score on the board. Queens' Briana did not falter, winning 0-1 for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much worse for both players, but the Flames' Briana did enough to come up with the win, defeating the Warriors' Andrew by an ugly 4-6 score to clinch the series at 2-0. Andrew couldn't hold onto an early lead in game 3, falling behind by the end and never standing a chance to catch up. Briana sealed the 3-0 series sweep with a 2-5 win, and she'll go on to face her sister and regional rival Stephanie of the Southridge Defenders in the second round.
That's it for today's action. We'll be back tomorrow to finish the first week of Tournament play.
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