The 21st season of Hastings Recreation Basketball came to a conclusion on Saturday, March 25, with four championship finals for each of its four divisions. The theme of “competition with kindness” was amply demonstrated by the beautiful display of intense yet benevolent play on the part of each of the remaining eight teams.
The day began with the championship battle in the girls’ junior division and it was as close and as thrilling as any game played this season. The Slices Sun pulled out to an 8-4 halftime advantage on the shoulders of their two superstars, Kaitlin Constantine and Melanie Pocius, but a 10-point third-quarter blitz by the Uncle Lefty Mercury’s Harlow Norlander, Sofie Jackson, and Tia del Pasqua put their squad trailing by only a bucket, 16-14, heading into the final stanza. A free throw by del Pasqua early in the fourth quarter pulled them within one, but neither side could score for the remainder of the game, leaving the Sun with a dramatic 16-15 triumph.
In the boys’ junior division final, the Greenleaf Pharmacy Clippers used double-digit scoring from their center Eli Reuter and eight points apiece from Parker Sierra and Desmond Loren to produce an impressive 35-21 victory over the Legendary Lakers. Ben Grushko demonstrated an MVP-level performance for the Lakers, as he poured in 17 points. Daniel Massey and Griffin Farber played strong games for the Clippers as well.
The girls’ senior division contest started out equally close, as the in2green Wings were tied at 4-4 with the Center Restaurant Storm at the end of the first quarter. Led by the career-best 14 points of Kate Mooney, and Ella Rizzo and Zavi Mazur, the Wings flew off on a 20-0 run and defeated the Storm 26-6. Elissa Huang scored all the points for her team.
The season ended with a fabulous game in the boys’ senior division as the Bob’s Service Station Heat upset the Bistro House Raptors 33-31 in a brilliant display of basketball. The Heat led 14-12 at the half and 22-18 heading into the last period. Clutch hoops from Jack Finn and a three-pointer from Silas Didovic kept the Heat in the lead and negated the major scoring of the Raptors’ Lucien Smith and Max Caramanica. The Heat, using huge hoops from Gavin Smith, Spenser Galland, and Simon Martin, tied the game at 31 with under a minute to play. The last hoop of the game and season was put in by Ronan del Pasqua to give the Heat a fabulous win and end a triumphant season for all participants.
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