By Mike Ainger
In Dutch lore, Sinterklass is an old man who rides his horse on rooftops. His helpers place gifts into the shoes of the good children across various European countries.
In closing out the first half of 705 Spruce League season, it was evident that Sinterklass’ helpers had little work to attend to at the Spruce Glen gymnasium, given that the week games could best be described as somewhere between naughty and downright nasty. So much so, that one starting small forward reported finding a cigarette butt in his shoe.
In the interest of maintaining the high levels of journalistic integrity that have come to define the reporting of the 705 Spruce League, several points of interest are worth noting from Wednesday’s (Dec. 21st) final matchups.
Team Red was able to find varying degrees of success in their ability to spread the floor, fluidly switching between their traditional triangle offense to a hybrid Princeton style, as defensive formations dictated. Nevertheless, a total team effort by Team Black, delineated by strong ball rotation and point production off the bench, made the close individual game scores a poor reflection of the dominance that was apparent at the court level. In the end, team Black once again proved to dominate, as evidenced by their ability to secure three wins, to a solitary victory by Team Red.
More important, however, is the necessary reflection from the grueling first half of the campaign. After 13 hard-fought games, the warriors of the ‘705 emerged bruised and battered, but otherwise no worse for wear. Record attendance rates from fans and players alike seemed to indicate a league trending towards true legitimacy, comparable to that of the Port Sydney Pickleball League (PSPL), and the Milford Bay Frolf Association (MBFA).
Perhaps due to their dedication to fighting through jammed fingers, too much chili, too little offseason cardio, and a beloved pet emu’s untimely departure for heaven, these most fierce of competitors have gradually begun to solidify their legacy’s as both ballers and sportsmen. From the lofty heights of the press box, it is clear that old man Sinterklass best save some space beside him on the roof, as this league can only continue to grow in stature.
Play in the second half of the season is slated to resume after the holiday break, when the playoff picture, and subsequent push to the league championship, will quickly become the focus.
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