The First Round finale is today, playing at a special later scheduled time. First up...
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Buddy v. Bandit. The blue cue will start in 8-ball today. Swordpoint's Bandit had a strong start in game 1, but Atlantic's Buddy replied with a six-ball run to pull even. Buddy finished the game when Bandit couldn't make the 8, and it was Buddy who took the initial 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Buddy was a little stronger early in game 2, but he didn't need to be. The Blades' Bandit ended up giving away the series when a deflection collected the 8 prematurely at the bottom right, gifting Buddy a win to clinch the series at 2-0. Bandit again squandered his offense in game 3, letting Buddy make a big comeback in game 3 to finish a 3-0 series sweep. Buddy will visit Whitewater Shores captain Shaggy in the second round with one of his three advancing bids, while Bandit has four going forward.
Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Nikolai. The red cue is next up, playing in 7-ball. Freedom's Nikolai was a little off with his offense in game 1, and Viewpoint Sound's Princess cleaned it up with a pair at the end for the win. Princess leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Princess was a little slow on offense to start game 2, and the Cascades' Nikolai cashed in on that with a five-ball run-out. Nikolai's surge tied the series at 1. Princess didn't stay down long, as Nikolai made two balls on the break but Princess replied with a four-ball run-out for the win. Princess took the series 2-1 and will host the Victoria Spurs' Strawberry in the second round. Princess carries five bids forward to Nikolai's two.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Patches. The purple cue goes next with a 15-ball series. Oceanside's Patches showed off some creativity in game 1 with a jump shot and a few glancing kicks, but she couldn't finish the effort. Atlantic's Steven made a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead in a close battle. The Pirates' Steven got some offense early in game 2, but the Waves' Patches made a five-ball run-out ending with a 7-15 kick combination to the bottom right for the win. This tied the series at 1 in highlight-reel fashion. Patches had her moments again in game 3, winning a possession battle on the 4 to generate offense. Steven kept it close, but Patches sealed the win on a four-ball run-out to take the 2-1 series win. In the second round, Patches visits the Victoria Spurs' Rosalina with one of her six advancing bids.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Lionel. The green cue draws in for this Accuracy set. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but Royal's Kayla maintained a lead and beat North Modernistic's Lionel 4-6 in game 1 for the 1-0 series lead. Play did not improve in game 2, as the Crowns' Kayla wasted a noticeable lead to drop into a tie with the Nighthawks' Lionel. It required overtime to settle, where Kayla missed on the break and Lionel converted for a 4-5 win to tie the series at 1. Kayla finally buckled down in game 3, playing the best performance of the series in a 1-4 win to beat Lionel 2-1 in the series. Kayla will host Whitewater Shores rookie Rachel in the second round. Kayla will have five bids going forward, while Lionel takes two.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Klaus v. Snowball. The purple cue returns for Rotation. Central's Klaus grabbed the initial lead in game 1, then weathered a comeback push from Westside's Snowball before winning on a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 result. Klaus leads the series 1-0. Another tight start saw the Rockers' Snowball get a small edge in game 2. The Warriors' Klaus kept it close, but Snowball was able to build an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. Klaus held a lead late in game 3, but he wasn't able to stop Snowball from rallying on a five-ball run-out for the 8-6 win. Snowball took the series 2-1 and will get a big series versus Central Warriors captain Twilight in the second round. Snowball has seven advancing bids to Klaus' five.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Jack. East Division captains battle in 12-ball with the purple cue in its round finale. Maplewood's Diddley had a good start to game 1, but went too strong on a miss on his last ball. Web City's Jack quickly replied with a three-ball run and set himself up to win on the next turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack had a fantastic start to game 2, making a five-ball run on solids after sinking one of each on the break. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had nothing in response, and Jack cut his last ball perfectly to the top right for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Diddley had a little more positioning in game 3, but Jack pulled off a brilliant 13-3-11 combination followed by a bank of the 13 to the bottom right at the end to get the win and 3-0 series sweep. Jack's dominant stretch got him into the second round for a visit versus Terrace City Knights star Oreo. Both players carry five bids forward.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stripes v. Mario. The blue cue gets a turn in Rotation between South Division rivals. Southridge's Stripes played a little better early on and fended off a push from Queens' Mario at the end of game 1. Stripes won 8-5 and owns a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Stripes didn't do well after early errors in game 2. The Flames' Mario took a large lead, gave it all back and then snagged an 8-7 win at the end to tie the series at 1 in a thriller. A back-and-forth game 3 saw Stripes take an early lead that Mario stole away on a four-ball run. Stripes replied with a four-ball run-out, ending with a kick on the 13 to the bottom left for the 8-6 win to take a 2-1 series win. Stripes has three bids going forward, while Mario has two.
Sony Center, Queens: Crystal v. Kodiak. The silver cue's lone series today is in 9-ball. Both players had their eyes on the 9 from the start of game 1. Queens' Crystal let it negatively impact her offense more, while Web City's Kodiak used the 6 as a deflector to drive the 9 into the bottom left at the end, with the 6 falling in the top side for the double-pot. Kodiak holds a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal sped up the process in game 2 with a 4-9 kick combination to the bottom left, a stunningly fast finish to tie the series at 1 versus the Spiders' Kodiak. Crystal got into positioning trouble again in game 3, and Kodiak made a 3-9 combination to the bottom left for a quick win and 2-1 series win. Kodiak will visit Eastside Sharks sophomore Maison in the second round with one of his three bids, while Crystal owns four bids going forward.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Avril. A pair of East Division foes play 9-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Avril wanted the chance to attack, but she wasted a late one in game 1 by scratching. Atlantic's Steven made the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Steven tried to get creative in game 2, shooting on the 2 and getting the 9 to drop in the bottom side, but he scratched at the top side. This gifted the win to the Tridents' Avril, and in turn tied the series at 1 game apiece. Steven began game 3 on a three-ball run, but it was a tight battle that saw Avril close on a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Avril will host Diamond Gems veteran Leonardo in the second round. Avril has four bids advancing compared to Steven's three.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Daisy v. Boots. To the North Division for more 9-ball with the red cue. A brutal late scratch from Oceanside's Daisy made it an easy finish on the 9 from ball-in-hand for Pearl's Boots. This gave Boots a 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Waves' Daisy didn't get a chance to redeem herself, as the Surfers' Boots made the 9 in the bottom left on the break in game 2, sealing the series at 2-0. Boots had a decent effort in game 3, but Daisy was able to sneak in at the end and grab the win. Boots settled for a 2-1 series win, which sets her up to visit the Pronger Tridents star Spot in the second round. Boots has five advancing bids to Daisy's three.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Sunshine. The blue cue is up for Accuracy. Pearl's Wings fell behind late in game 1 and didn't get a chance to keep the game tied as Royal's Sunshine snagged a 3-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings had a shaky performance in game 2 as well, and this time saw the Crowns' Sunshine put some distance between the two players. Sunshine clinched the series at 2-0 with a 1-4 win. Sunshine had a good start to game 3 but fell behind. He dragged Wings down to force overtime, but missed on his overtime break, and Wings won 3-4. Sunshine's 2-1 series win puts him into the second round on the road versus Atlantic Pirates mainstay Steven. Sunshine has four bids in the next round to Wings' two.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Gabby v. Debby. The red cue plays a Rotation set. Diamond's Debby had a solid start, but lost the pace as Southern's Gabby made a four-ball run. Gabby took her time to finish off an 8-6 win, going ahead 1-0 in the series despite some shaky play. The Monarchs' Gabby had a better start in game 2, but couldn't keep it going once the Gems' Debby got a grip on a six-ball run-out. Debby's massive surge gave her an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. Debby continued to enjoy a pacey attack in game 3, while Gabby tried and failed to hang on. Debby won 8-4 and took the series 2-1 to get into a second round series versus Gabby's Monarchs teammate Molly. Gabby has three remaining bids.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fuchsia v. Debby. The visitor completes her road doubleheader in 12-ball as the green cue makes an exit. Methodical positioning was the theme in game 1, with both players taking their time. Infinity's Fuchsia transitioned to execution much better, easily picking up the win for a 1-0 series lead over Diamond's Debby. Play switched to an execution-based battle in game 2, which saw the Gems' Debby weave her way to a five-ball run-out while the Torpedoes' Fuchsia had to watch. Debby's surge tied the series at 1. Debby made one of each on the game 3 break and chose to play stripes. This worked out, as Fuchsia had to foul to free up her positioning, and Debby made a pair for the win on the next turn. Debby won the series 2-1 and will visit Westside Rockers newcomer Snowball in the second round. Both players have four bids moving forward.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Prism v. Bucco. The blue cue's finale is in 7-ball in the East Division. Pronger's Prism struggled from the start of game 1, and Harrison's Bucco cashed in on that with a five-ball run-out for the win. Bucco owns a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw neither player enjoy a smooth offense, but the Specters' Bucco remained clearly more engaged than the Tridents' Prism. Bucco sniped the 7 to the bottom left at the end for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Prism fouled late in game 3, ruining her chance of salvaging a result as Bucco took the 7 to the top left on a free shot. Bucco swept the series 3-0 and will travel to face Pearl Surfers veteran Wings in the second round with one of his five advancing bids. Prism takes four bids forward.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Lindsay v. Acorn. The round ends with the red cue in 9-ball. Stonebridge's Lindsay accidentally hit the 1 a little lightly in game 1, setting up Lighton's Acorn for a 1-9 combination to the top left. Acorn took a quick 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn opened with a four-ball run in game 2, but the Wolves' Lindsay had a three-ball run near the end before she missed on the 9. Acorn made the 9 at the top right for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Acorn brought another quick finish in game 3, shooting off the 1 with a tiny deflection to put the 9 in the top left. Acorn swept Lindsay 3-0 in the series, and he'll host the Web City Spiders' Nibbles in the second round. Acorn has three bids going forward, compared to Lindsay's five.
That's it for the First Round. The league will take a break until Friday, August 6, for administrative duties and rest.
No comments:
Post a Comment