OU Bowl Over Warriors

Reading, MA - In the fast-paced, high pressure world of being a YMCA Men's League Team Cap'n - things can often change in a matter of minutes. One minute, you think the team is down to three available players for a game that night... The next, you not only have enough guys, but you also have an extra player who you've never played with that turns out to be an absolute motor on the court. Such is the life I have chosen.

So, when I got a call from Nick Destroyer-Swain saying he didn't think he could make it for the game Thursday - I was concerned. Then, when Nick called back an hour later and told me that he would be able to make the game AND had another buddy who could play with us... Well, I was just a tad relieved.

Nick would put in one of his more dominating performances of the session, dropping 34 in his last game before heading south to Connecticut to continue his career in medicine. And, his buddy Derek - a Roomba-like energy player - fit in with the existing OU crew perfectly.

On the other end of the court, the Warriors showed up game-ready, but unfortunately had to take the brunt of Nick's presence. They were missing several key players, and after starting out the game 3 for 3 from behind the three-point line - they were overwhelmed by OUs speed and tenacity. OU pushed the pace and remained tenacious on the defensive end for all 40 minutes. By the end of the first half, OU had already built a 20 point lead, and was cruising towards the W. Threes were droppin', post play was poppin', and OU wasn't stoppin' (That sentence has to put me in the running for a Pulitzer).

The second half was a simple continuation of the first... Derek and Danger Dan Fisher continued to run all over the court, and Cap'n and Shu-ter Patel simply spotted up wherever there was open space. On top of all the points he scored, Nick also had about 20 rebounds, 20 free-throws and 20 collisions where he was a bus and an unlucky Warrior's player was a Mini Cooper.

The final score of 97-62 didn't really do the Warriors justice, as they battled with a less-than full line-up. OU, meanwhile, moves to 5-2 on the session - with three games remaining.