2015 FBA Season/15.04.17/ALK@SJT/Capsule
This game was nothing short of two teams giving it their all as the end of the season draws near. The Alaska Arctics and San Jose Thrust both faced a rather tumultuous season, and now they, like many other teams are neck-in-neck fighting for survival to clinch a spot in the 2015 Playoffs.
Returning to the point guard position for Alaska was Alessandro Serra (Weasel, G). His performance in the last few days has been absolutely phenomenal, and he has given Alaska's opponents a very different playbook to contend with. Zack Tate (Zorilla, C), however was clearly giving it all to prove he was the Center to watch this season. In some very stunning replay videos worth a montage, the polecat managed to make 14 whole rebounds with very fierce leaps and giving the Thrust's bigfur Benjamin Durby (Fallow Deer, C/F) and center Quintessa Hartnett (Leopard, C) some pause. The Thrust however, so close to being eliminated weren't going to give up without a fight, taking full advantage of Alaska's aggressive playstyle and drew out numerous fouls for free points - but the desperation might have caused the Thrust to gain their own share of fouls.
One of the most notable things of the match, however were the intense verbal and physical back-and-forth moments between guards Cliff Matthiews (Canadian Lynx, G) and Devon Kellendyne (Cacomistle, G). While no one caught their banter - the two players not being known to actually yell at others beyond calling plays - the way the two guards faced off against each other today would remind FBA fans from 2011-2012 of their earlier years. Back then, Matthiews and DK were often visibly trying to outpace and outmatch each other during matches between Alaska and the Biloxi Mudpuppies as they tried to show their talents to their teams, barely a year or two into their career. Now, you could see far more backbone and confidence in the way they went at each other. This time, however, Cliff was not the one at point, and DK had been viewed as the San Jose team's leader. It didn't stop them from trying to block each other off or to yank the rock off each other's hands.
In the final minute of a hectic 4th quarter, Alaska was ahead of the Thrust with a score of 98-97. Kellendyne, with the ball tried to fake out Matthiews with a shot - something the lynx wasn't fazed by - only to follow with a step off to the side. With surprising agility, the cacomistle then swung his tail behind him and quickly turned the other direction, catching the lynx off guard. The move was costly on DK's balance, however, and the cacomistle could not run fast enough before the lynx gave chase side-by side. As Cliff managed to catch up and was once more in front of the cacomistle, DK let go of the rock in a pass to Renee Fiora (Malamute, F). However, as she reached out for the ball, Mason Yoder (Star Nosed Mole, C) held out his claws go grab at it. As the two hands collided, the mole's hands snapped awkwardly to the wood, cracking his claw. The injury wasn't serious, but the mole had to sit out for the rest of the game. No foul was called as it was deemed unintentional.
With barely thirty seconds left on the clock, Alaska mounted whatever defense they could. After a back-and-forth struggle for most of it, Fiora managed to sweep the ball off of Alessandro Serra's hands before he could pass and made one final shot in the last three seconds. It hit the rim of the ring, which was just enough time for Tate to yank it off before it had any chance of bouncing in. The polecat came down with the ball, roaring in tandem with the buzzer, marking the end of the Thrust's fight for the playoffs.
"We've grown a lot as players, I think." Matthiews remarked when asked about what he had said to Kellendyne in a post-game interview. "With him[Kellendyne], I think I can relate to him quite a lot. Our position in the team, when we came into the FBA, I think there was this unspoken thing when I go head to head with him, and -- this is probably one of my favourite parts of the sport, and it's hard to explain unless you're in the moment -- but you just 'click', and you know who you're facing. You grow to respect that. I think it's a mutual feeling. Or -- is that just me?" he asks, looking to his team with a grin. "I like to think it's something some players here feel."
-Reeve Alonse, Alaskan Sports Live