The annual Maysville Basic was what it all the time is, thrilling, energetic and stacked with a lineup of a number of the finest basketball gamers round all competing for the possibility to take residence the championship trophy.
This yr, reigning champions Squad Up weren’t within the lineup, which means a brand new champion was to be topped within the ultimate matchup, that includes two out of state groups, 99 Total and Southeast Professional-Am Basic. This recreation was much like every recreation main as much as the championship spherical, with intense, excessive stage taking part in from all group members concerned, but it surely was rapidly clear who can be taking residence the trophy.
By the top of the primary twenty-minute half, 99 Total led 44-32. 99 Total maintained a minimum of a ten level lead for a lot of the sport, leaping out forward of Southeast Professional-Am Basic rapidly. 99 Total achieved a close to 20 level lead a number of instances all through the sport, however SPAC pulled the sport again shut, not permitting 99 Total to tug away with the sport.
“I felt good coming into the event. All of us got here right here from Cincinnati. We needed to ensure we get our legs proper, drink loads of water, stretch. Plenty of us are 9-5 guys simply working so, it’s superior simply to get a bunch of guyss collectively and get a “W”.” stated Kenny Gaynor, a member of 99 Total and the Ron Bailey MVP trophy recipient.
Gaynor stated that it was an honor to be named event MVP, however that his success was a group effort, not his alone.
“I really feel nice, however all of us did it collectively. It’s a group basketball recreation, all of us did it collectively. This MVP is for all of us, not simply me.” stated Gaynor.
Gaynor was the groups “large man” stepping as much as the half court docket line for the tip off and sustaining a wonderful guard defensively. He additionally was stable on the rebound, and made positive to maintain his group in posession as usually as attainable.
On the video games end result, with SPAC calling it earlier than the top of the second twenty minute half, 99 Total led 74-56 over the runners-up.
“I believed we did nice, we let one go yesterday right here, our second recreation. We had ‘em and we simply let it go in extra time. We actually needed to make an announcement coming again at the moment and getting a “W”. We drive an hour out right here, so, we’d as effectively win it whereas we’re right here.” stated Gaynor.
He and his group made the journey to Maysville each days in a row, and solely misplaced one recreation, making them the 2023 Maysville Basic champions. Gaynor stated that his group cherished the competitiveness of the event, and complimented its group, saying they plan to be again within the close to future.
“I believed all people did a terrific job. The video games have been nice, all people was tremendous aggressive. I simply love competitiveness, and simply competing. I just like the court docket, if I needed to change one factor I feel I’d get some A/C on this fitness center.” joked Gaynor.
In the long run, the Maysville Basic delivered on its promise of constant to convey excessive stage basketball to Maysville. A stacked lineup of groups with vastly completely different backgrounds, play types and talent ranges, led to an extremely fast-paced, aggressive set of basketball video games that had followers on the perimeters of their seats from begin to end. Plans are already underway for subsequent years traditional, which goals to enhance upon an already high quality event.