We're back for another day of Bracket Finals action. Both the red and silver cues are on the bench today. First up...
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Spirit. The blue cue starts with a massive 10-ball series between mother and daughter. Whitewater's Shaggy had a solid start to game 1, but she missed the 8 to end a three-ball run. Lighton's Spirit then picked up the slack for the win, sinking a pair to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Spirit prevailed again in game 2, burying a pair at the end of a close battle that saw the Shores' Shaggy just falter a bit late. A choppy game 3, even by this series' standards, saw Spirit make the 10 to the bottom side at the end. Shaggy had picked up the pace a bit, but she faltered late, allowing Spirit to clinch the series at 3-0. Shaggy finally put together a strong run in game 4, making the last six balls to get a win over Spirit, who remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Spirit did a little more clean-up work in game 5, burying the final pair for the win to finish a 4-1 series win over Shaggy. Spirit went 14-7 on the bracket to reach the Finals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Charli. The blue cue stays on for a 13-ball set. Sally had a productive game 1, surging early on offense to establish her lead. Tysini's Charli took the sides easily, but couldn't get much else before Sally closed the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally took a smaller lead early in game 2, and she had to play a little positional defense at the end to fend off a hard charge from the Hummingbirds' Charli. Sally got the win with a pair of shots to go ahead 2-0 in the series. In game 3, Sally was able to pull off a comeback despite a strong start from Charli, who made two stripes while pursuing the 8 near the end. Sally then struck the 8 to the bottom left for the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Sally made a productive push in game 4, and then she caught a break when Charli fouled while trying to sink her last ball. Sally won with a pair of shots to get the win for a 4-0 series lead. Charli finally found the surge late in game 5, grabbing her lone win of the series. Sally won 4-1 in the series, and she was 14-7 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Sally is up to three kills, while Charli is the 139th player out.
Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Shaggy. North Division captains clash in Accuracy with the purple cue. Whitewater's Shaggy had a rough performance in game 1, and Viewpoint Sound's Hoot still barely held on to take a 4-5 win. Hoot leads the series 1-0 but without much confidence. The Shores' Shaggy was a little better early in game 2, but her late fade allowed the Meteors' Hoot to step in for a 3-4 win this time. Hoot extended his series lead to 2-0. Shaggy again improved in game 3, but it wasn't enough as Hoot didn't miss a shot to log a 0-2 win. Hoot sealed the series at 3-0 with this victory. Hoot didn't repeat his perfect performance, but he was good enough to secure a 2-4 win as Shaggy faded late in game 4. Hoot's series lead is up to 4-0. Hoot couldn't complete the sweep in game 5, as Shaggy put in a perfect effort for a 0-2 win to get a consolation result. Hoot went 16-5 on the bracket and earned his third kill, making Shaggy the 140th player out of action.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Ellie. The green cue is up for a 12-ball battle between West Division foes. A strong starting effort paced Pacific's Ms. Kitty in game 1. She was able to overcome a foul in the middle to beat Capital City's Ellie for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty looked good again at the start of game 2, but she couldn't corral her shots at the side pockets. The Sharpshooters' Ellie fired back on a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Ellie had to remove Ms. Kitty's defense in game 3 to have a chance for her finishing attack. Unfortunately for Ellie, Ms. Kitty replied with a five-ball run-out on the next turn to regain the series lead at 2-1. Ms. Kitty made a stripe on the break but couldn't position herself after that. Ellie answered on a five-ball run and won on the second turn to retie the series at 2. Ms. Kitty made a four-ball run in game 5 to pressure Ellie, who made a pair in response but couldn't align her last ball to the top left. Ms. Kitty eventually made her last pair for the win and 3-2 series win that gets her into the Finals on 15-6 record from the bracket. Ellie's rookie season ends as the 141st eliminated player, with Ms. Kitty taking sole possession of the league lead in kills with six.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Fuchsia. The blue cue is back for the last 9-ball series of the round in another West Division showdown. Lighton's Spirit struck quickly in game 1, ending on a three-ball run-out with a 6-9 combination to the bottom left for the 1-0 series lead over Infinity's Fuchsia. The Torpedoes' Fuchsia couldn't seem to get anything going in game 2. The Prestige's Spirit was also a little slow, but she made a three-ball run and a five-ball run-out on an 8-9 combination to the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Fuchsia drew a bit more of the offense in game 3, but she wasn't able to close it out, and Spirit made the final pair for the win. Spirit clinched the series at 3-0. Spirit couldn't keep it going in game 4, with Fuchsia picking up a win on a three-ball run-out. Spirit remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Fuchsia added game 5 on the break by making the 9 to the bottom left. Spirit settled for a 3-2 series win and 15-6 record from the bracket to reach the Finals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow v. Roxy. To the South Division, where the purple cue exits after 13-ball. Diamond's Shadow couldn't overcome tough positioning in game 1, as Southridge's Roxy was fast enough on offense to grab the win. Roxy leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Roxy had to get creative on offense in game 2 after a fast start from the Gems' Shadow. Both players had similar end pushes, with Roxy getting the 8 at the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shadow worked hard to get back in position in a close game 3, and he had a shot on the 8 that went just wide of the bottom left. Roxy immediately replied on a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 3-0. Shadow had just about everything go right early in game 4, only for a late miss on the 8 to again be his downfall. Roxy pulled off an incredible four-ball run-out for the win, stretching her series lead to 4-0. Shadow finally got on the board in game 5, closing out a difficult game with little organization and positioning play. Roxy took the series 4-1 and finished with a 15-6 record on the bracket.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Strawberry. Club-mates tangle in 15-ball with the blue cue. Pearl's Watermelon had most of the early offense in game 1, but her miss on the 7-15 combination allowed Victoria's Strawberry to strike the same play to the top right. Strawberry holds a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon didn't wait long to get even in game 2. The Spurs' Strawberry had an illegal contact foul, and Watermelon cut a tough 3-15 combination to the bottom side for the win, tying the series at 1. Watermelon looked to carry some momentum through game 3, but it didn't work out so well when she fouled a turn after a five-ball run. Strawberry made the final pair of shots for the win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Watermelon had a good pace on offense in game 4, but her final approach on the 15 left her with a bad angle. Strawberry mopped up in the end, grabbing the win to secure the series for herself at 3-1. Watermelon came back with a vengeance in game 5, rattling off a six-ball run and a four-ball run-out to grab the win. Strawberry took the series 3-2 and went 16-5 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Watermelon is the 142nd player to exit the Tournament, and Strawberry is up to three kills. The Surfers are also the 10th team out.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Molly v. Crystal. The blue cue is done for the day after 7-ball. Southern's Molly made the 3 and 6 to the bottom corners on the game 1 break, while the 7 fell in the top side for an instant win. She leads 1-0 in the series over Queens' Crystal. The Monarchs' Molly didn't have as much fun from open play in game 2, as the Flames' Crystal handled most of the offense to earn the win. The series is tied at 1. In game 3, Crystal opened on a four-ball run. Molly got a pair back, but missed on the 7, which Crystal put away for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. In game 4, Crystal didn't have very much success on offense. Molly was able to jump in at the end on a three-ball run-out for the win, retying the series at 2. Crystal picked up the win in game 5 after both players rattled out shots on the 7 late. Crystal took the series 3-2 and finished 16-8 on the bracket to earn her place in the Finals from a Play-In Round start. That was Crystal's first kill, while Molly is the 143rd player to exit.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Rachel. The green cue takes a turn in Accuracy to end the day. Whitewater's Rachel couldn't stop missing near the end of game 1, while Tysini's Leandra didn't exactly clamp down. A scratch by Rachel allowed Leandra to earn the 3-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra completely lost her form in the middle of game 2, making it easy for the Shores' Rachel to walk away with a 1-5 win this time. This tied the series at 1. Leandra bounced back in game 3, playing perfectly until the end when the last ball gave both players trouble. Leandra beat Rachel 2-7 this time to gain a 2-1 series lead. Rachel got back on track in game 4, settling down for a 1-2 win over Leandra with another incident of poor shooting on the last ball. Leandra took the momentum back one last time in game 5, beating Rachel 1-3 with a near-perfect performance. Leandra won the series 3-2 and went 16-5 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Leandra took her first kill of the year to make Rachel the 144th player out. The Shores are the 11th team out of bids, although they seem likely for a playoff spot.
That's all for today. Tomorrow, we'll finish off the Bracket Finals barring any scheduling difficulties before another two-day administrative and rest break ahead of the Finals gauntlets.
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