Bloodbath! Unsung Warriors defeat Regulators 36-29

Ladder position: 8th
5 wins, 6 losses


Regs lose Matt Leonard, lose game, may have lost chance at finals.

Before and after: Leonard did not return after the collision, and is in doubt for next game

This was the game many fans has penciled in as a must see from the start of the season. Even with the Regs looking shaky and out of a top 4 spot, a season record 3 fans piled into the MSAC arena. This game promised much and delivered plenty, but left Regulator fans ultimately disappointed in the seven point loss.

Both teams traded baskets and turnovers at a lightning quick rate until midway through the first half. That's when Matt Leonard and an unknown Warriors player met face-to-arm, and Leonard's nose bent four-ways-back-from-Sunday (medical term). The force of the impact was immediate as blood came gushing out in huge streams that looked awesome as. If that wasn't enough to inspire his teammates, Leonard still chased after the ball to keep possession - with blood flowing - it was freakin' unreal.

With so much blood on the floor, the game had to be transferred to a different court. The two teams left off where they started and the contest was tied at halftime.

The second half was as fiercely played as the first, but down to only one big man (Sam, who was air balling free-throws - sorry Sam), and a no-show from Matt Owens, the Regulators were going to have to play at their best. Got to give credit to the Warriors perimeter defense which was almost like a wall, the few times a Regulator got in was through a broken play from a bad pass.

Claude once again delivered the goods, accounting for a huge percentage of the Regulator score. But with the rest of the team finding it hard to get anything this can be seen as a positive. Owens no doubt would have put a few on the board and Torrance had sore guns from a skiing trip (missing a few threes he might normally make).

But enough excuses - a massive percentage boost is the forecast for next week as the Regs take on cellar-dwellers DUB. Then a bye followed by more bottom tier teams before a last round matchup with current #6 team Shooting Blanks.

Check back for a ladder update and analysis of the Regulator road to finals glory:

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