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Hello again, folks! After doing filming, I realized that I absolutely ruined the picture size for the first two games I filmed. (Plus the disaster that was filming the Valentia game) But I have enough stuff for a fun, info-filled gif-filled effortpost!
Day 1 started with Almyra @ Valentia, which was not only the worst game in the whole slate, but even the stadium itself began to break under the sheer magnitude of horrible basketball being played.
Our first quarter started with a 3 minute scoreless drought by Almyra, and only 6 points being scored by Valentia in that time period. Almyra and Valentia would exchange points until the end of the quarter, ending in a 6-13 snoozefest. My initial thought was that the game still had potential to come back, but the 2nd quarter only confirmed the worst. 16-24 at halftime, in which Celica led both teams with a whopping 6 points.
Then the game started to slowly tear itself apart.
Rudolf Stadion has a lower LED sign than most stadiums, and the sign got lower and lower as the game went on, in a desperate attempt to destroy the framerate. Neither team was really interested in raising the intensity, and the opening game ended with a Valentia win over Almyra: 49-34.
Our second game was much better, and worthy of starting the season off right. Nohr @ Macedon/Archanea was a tight, intense matchup from the opening tipoff. The notable matchup in the first half was Camilla vs Navarre. Navarre kept the team grounded early, adding offensive rebounds and second chance points.
Navarre scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half, and disappeared in the second.
Camilla was much more consistent. She only had 10 points in the game, but had 4 blocks, including this one on Caeda.
The half ended with a small Macedon advantage, leading the Glory of Nohr 46-44.
The 3rd quarter began with a barrage of points from Caeda and Linde, including a clutch 3 pointer to kill any momentum from Nohr.
Pictured here: Caeda nearly breaking the hearts of the few Nohrian fans
Even though it was 71-66 at the end of the third, a quick 6 points from Macedon at the start of the 4th made it an 11 point advantage that seemed too big to overcome!
That was when Xander’s name was called.
12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal changed the tide of the game, and with 5 seconds remaining, he had a chance to take a 92-90 lead.
A missed Marth 3 pointer later, and this game was over, a huge comeback win for the Glory of Nohr, and a major setback for the Whitewings in Macedon Square Garden.
The next game on the initial three game slate, Albinea @ Fhirdiad, didn’t promise to be as competitive a game. Fhirdiad is a top team, former champs, and Albinea doesn’t have the same size as Dedue and Dimitri. However, things were looking up from the get-go for the Seahawks.
NPC Character clowning Dedue on the tipoff
NPC Character about to give Albinea their first and only lead, an 11-10 lead in the first quarter.
Fhirdiad tightened up the defense, and took a 18-14 lead in the first. The second quarter was largely unremarkable, save for a buzzer beater 3 by Annette that put Dimitri into sleep mode.
Halftime Score: 39-34 Fhirdiad
The 3rd quarter is when things started to turn around for the Blue Lions. Dimitri became more active on defense.
One of Dimitri’s 3 blocks in the second half
Felix also scored all 12 of his points in this quarter.
However, Albinea hung in tough, and kept the score close. It was 63-55 at the end of the 3rd.
The 4th was less favorable to the underdogs. Dedue took over and brutalized the interior.
Dedue had an amazing 14 points in the 4th but no rebounds.
In fact, he didn't record a single rebound in all 4 quarters.
No rebounds the whole game.
Still, the end result was a 87-69 win for Fhirdiad, even after 3 quarters of hard fought basketball from Albinea.
Which brings us to the last game, and let me start by saying this to Thordain:
I’m so sorry
Garreg Mach @ Gloucester, while probably uneven, had a probability of being a grind it out slugfest.
Unfortunately, Rhea made sure it never got that way. I didn’t save gifs of Rhea’s 4 fouls, which led to two injuries, but I made this:
Yes, that is Garreg Mach’s head coach reveling in Rhea’s headhunting.
For a moment, the game seemed like it would be competitive. Gloucester broke out into a 8-2 lead early, spearheaded by Bartholomew Crababboulous.
However, this quickly ended with a thing I’m already calling “Shamir Nevrand Bullshit”
Garreg Mach pulled out a 23-15 lead in the 1st from mostly fadeaway 3 pointers by Shamir. Shamir would only score 4 more points in the rest of the game, however.
It was Rhea and Catherine that would take over the rest of the game.
Speaking of Catherine, it’s finally time to talk about the tragic story of Dewan Hernandez. Dewan played for the Toronto Raptors last year, winning an NBA Championship. However, during quarantine, he was transported to Fodlan, and is now playing for The Gloucester Gentlemen’s Recreational Club.
He loves it here.
He also loves his new name that Count Gloucester foisted upon him: “Dewan Swankypants”
Absolutely loves it.
He also loves getting dunked on by Catherine.
It’s okay, though, things couldn’t possibly get worse for Gloucester in this game.
In the end, I think this gif sums it all up.
Hanneman Von Essar, everybody.
The game ended 94-73, a rough game that Gloucester will want to forget. Hopefully the injuries aren’t too serious.
Other scores from gamedays 1-3 on next post: