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Heartbreakers Take Game #3 on Technicality; Blue Roos Vow Revenge
After a one week hiatus in which we were able to witness two pieces of history (the Arizona Cardinals playing in their first ever Super Bowl and the Pittsburgh Steelers winning a record sixth Super Bowl), it was definitely time to get back to some serious trash talking on the netball court. The faithful gathered at Velocity Sports Performance in Murfreesboro, warily eying each other. Game #3 was going to be one of those pivotal swing games; the winner would have a 2-1 lead in the series.
The changes going into this week's match hit both teams hard, as Nicia Behary and Bina Patel were unavailable for action. To compensate, the Blue Roos drafted Jai Patel, and started him at center to capitalize on his quickness. Then the Heartbreakers picked up sharpshooter Neil Desai, hoping he could replace the baskets that Nicia Behary had accounted for last week. Anand Patel, claiming he could no longer stand to play opposite his wife was traded to the Heartbreakers for Pratik Bhikha. Then Head Coach Moreen Logsdon declared that her team automatically got the third pick "Because I am in charge" and they selected defensive specialist Mandi Jaehne. Finally, the Blue Roos then claimed that all new players with the last name of Patel were automatically Blue Roo property, which meant Pete Patel joined 'Team Patel'. In addition, the Blue Roos activated Rachel Charlize from the injured reserve, her devastating Twister Game injury having healed sufficiently to receive medical clearance to play. Making room for this surprising announcement, Christine Peever (Moreen Logsdon's sister) picked up the umpiring duties.
So with all the maneuvering finally completed, the game eventually was played. And the wait was well worth it. The Heartbreakers ceded the first possession, but hardly noticed, sprinting out to an early lead as shooting ace Dee Patel was the recipient of a number of fantastic entry passes from husband Anand Patel. The stunned Blue Roos righted the ship by shutting off the passing lanes and started their own run using clever lob passes to reach their shooter extraordinaire Alan Denton, rallying to within a bucket, 4-3 at the first break.
In the second, The Heartbreakers switched strategy, and put Jeff Persson on Alan Denton to try to stem the tide. For most of the quarter it worked as he swatted away several entry passes. Meanwhile, Mandi Jaehne and Neil Patel were able to break into the clear to score the early baskets and restore the lead. However, Tai Logsdon, who improves with every game, found a way to get open several times and perfected her lob passes to get the ball back to Alan Denton, who scored the final two buckets to again reduce the deficit to one goal, 6-5 at the mid-point of the match.
Going into the third quarter, the defensive discipline broke down for the Blue Roos and the Heartbreakers' fast break worked like a charm, and the lead got up to four goals as the game became a true offensive clinic. Not to be outdone, Pratik Bhikha and Pete Patel rallied the Blue Roos with some terrific hustle and again Alan Denton was burying his shots, but the lead had grown to 13-9.
Unfortunately, just as the fourth quarter got under way, and Alan Denton again scored, the time limit expired and the Heartbreakers on a technicality were awarded the victory that matched their name, giving them a series lead of 2-1. And it surely left the Blue Roos faithful feeling like the hue of their name, and definitely had them wondering, �What if...�. Given they were riding high on the rally train, they had a point. As they left the court, they were heard grumbling, �Just wait til next week; we will have our revenge�. So if you are a Heartbreaker, be sure to bring your A+ game next week � you�re gonna need it!
The season series continues with Game #4 next Sunday February 15, with the game scheduled for 4 pm at Velocity Sports Performance in Murfreesboro. The teams are set to arrive at 3:30 for warm ups, so get there early for autographs and choice seating arrangements (my bet is center court will be prime real estate). And bring a few aspirin as this one may just be a bruising battle!
Score by Quarter
First Quarter: Heartbreakers 4, Blue Roos 3
Second Quarter: Heartbreakers 6, Blue Roos 5
Third Quarter: Heartbreakers 13, Blue Roos 9
Fourth Quarter: Heartbreakers 13, Blue Roos 10
Umpire: Christine Peever
Injuries: None
Photographs: Holly Baker (but her idiot husband screwed up the camera setting so don't blame her for the quality � it was not her fault!)
