The team that took the floor tonight was a team that hardly had an identity three months ago. The Stack in Black, a team in flux added Anicito 5 games into the season. Robbie who was the highly sought after free agent was in and out, busy with his new found hobby of needle point artwork classes that meet on Wednesday nights. If you’re looking to purchase some of his creations you can do that here (
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walter-Crane-Peacock-12-x-12-inch-Needlepoint-Canvas-/130843458670?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e76e0bc6e). Mostly playing with a 5 man squad for the last four games, the crew went 3-1. Then hurricane Sandy hit. Water flowed right through the Fastbreak arena, destroying the floors. There was a 6 week break from season action. When play resumed the crew had come back (sans Needlepoint Robbie) and won their last game (against the #1 team) before the playoffs, earning them the #3 seed going into the post season. After taking out two poorly constructed teams, they took their shot once again at the #1 squad. This time however, Robbie was back, giving the Stack in Black the matchup they needed against a quick as cracker jacks Orange squad. After methodically moving the ball and getting great looks, there was an upset in the gym that night. The Orange team couldn’t handle the height of Cyriacks and Casey. The verdict was a victory, one that prepared these men for another championship game. They knew each other for a while. Some of them were/are original Flying Elephants (Robbie, Anicito, Noel & Cyriacks). Casey spent some time wearing the E. Jimmy and Stu saw the potential in getting five veterans who have played together before and knew that this was the best shot they would have to vie for a championship and that is exactly what they got.
Fast forward 168 hours later to championship night. 8 pm tip off. But around 1pm the team was given devastating news. Noel got a text from big man Casey “I ate” Casem. It turned out that Casey wasn’t aware that we had the championship game tonight and didn’t take off from work. Perhaps his penchant for late night soirees and Chivas Regal caught up to him, forgetting to switch his day on the truck.
But just like Anicito’s fantasy basketball team, time and tide wait for no man. They must press on. With one lowly fan in the audience, Mr. Mahler was there giving his son and his adopted basketball sons, the support they needed. Their opponent was the Red team. The Red escaped with a win against Big Yellow last week on a controversial buzzer beater. Instant replay shows the team called a timeout before the shot was off and the ref never gave it to them. However, it didn’t matter. They were there waiting to claim their stake at the championship but the Stack in Black had other plans.
Stu (ref) was picked up by under-covers trying to score some Mali in the Concord section of Staten Island. The game needed to start with only one ref. The Red team struggled to get their shots to fall. While the Stack in Black made their threes and got some hustle shots to fall. They opened a 13-5 lead to start the game. The Red team played ball hawk defense as both teams opted to play a man defense for all of the 40 minutes. It was that hard-nosed defense that led to the Reds hitting some open threes and tying the game at the half 23-23.
As the second half got underway, Stu (ref) came hobbling in. Whereas we all thought he was going to be serving a 2-4 (with good behavior) he was let off on a technicality. So unfortunately he was going to ref the rest of this match. His impact on the game affected both teams but the Stack in Black mostly. Phantom calls really got us out of our rhythm. Before you could look up at the score, a 5 point lead with three minutes to go was erased. The Red had actually taken the lead 41-39. Then it was all Robbie. With a mismatch on Robbie with the time running down, he took his man to the hoop and got a foul call. Robbie sank both to tie the game at 41. With 15 seconds left in the game the Reds had a chance to win it. Their point guard who donned a grey haired overlay had been getting to the hoop all night. As the clocked ticked down he drove to the hoop, dished to another member of his team who stepped out of bounds. This gave the crafty veterans 9.3 seconds and the ball to win the game.
A plan was drawn up by Robbie to get the ball to Cyriacks at the free throw line. It worked to perfection as the inbound went to Brian who handed the ball off to Robbie. Robbie raced down the length of the floor, 6 seconds, 5 seconds, Robbie got to the lane, 4 seconds, took two steps and leaped into the air. Just then time stopped, flashes of every game we’ve ever played together came before our eyes. As Robbie cradled the ball in an effort to lay it in, it soared toward the backboard in line to go down in the bucket. But out of nowhere, the Taylor Hicks look-a-like swatted the ball away before it could touch the backboard. 3 seconds left.
With a time out called the Stack in Black, mainly Robbie, came up with an out of bounds play. The play was to get the ball to Stu on the block. Robbie would draw his defenders away from the play, Noel took the ball out and when Robbie streaked across the court, the court opened wide for a pass to Stu. Stu caught the pass, turned around and banked the shot in with no time left on the clock. Game over. It was a 43-41 victory for the team that was in chaos throughout the season and now somehow had melded into Fastbreak Champions. The Stack in Black forever immortalized in the championship books. They would now be known as the latest version of the Staten Island Flying Elephants.
Congrats fellas. Next season we will be outfitted in red and white reversible jerseys that will highlight the Elephant logo. A symbol that we all should wear with pride. A symbol that has been worn by basketball warriors in the past who you will now represent. Wear it well, wear it for all eternity.
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