Everything went pretty much according to plan—by the seeds, that is—when the Sutton & Sons Men's Basketball League opened its season-ending city tournament with seven games last week in Hailey.
But there was one near-upset. And it would have been a gigantic one.
Starting with only five players and finishing the game with four, #1-seeded Phoenix Bar & Grill (13-0) hung on for a 69-68 victory over #8-seeded Growing Concern (4-10) Sunday at The Community Campus gym.
Jeff Monroe, the league's top player all season, scored 16 of his game-high 29 points in the second half, including four 3-pointers for Phoenix. Pat Loftus added 13 points and Tony St. George 12 for the undefeated league leaders.
Growing Concern's veterans, trailing 36-31 at half-time, battled back and were behind 67-61 when Phoenix fouled out one of its players. Growing made a game-ending run that put a scare into cold-shooting Phoenix.
Tim Richards finished with 19 points, Gary Carr 15 and Jim Carkonen 11 for Growing Concern.
In other games Sunday:
Second-seeded Sawtooth Paint/Soundwave (12-2) trailed 31-30 at intermission but rallied for a 72-56 triumph over #7-seeded Sun Valley Brokers (5-10). Christian Nickum (five 3-balls) poured in 15 of his team-high 20 points after the half for Soundwave, while David Morgan added 16 and Luke Macdonald 13. For the brokers, Ross McAllister finished at 20.
Jivaro Headhunters (11-2) nipped Sutton & Sons 49-42, as Darrell Tullis had 17 of his game-high 26 points after the half for Jivaro. Jay Fry added 9 points for the winners. For Sutton & Sons, Ross Sutton had 10, Craig Eastop 9 and Scott Taylor 8.
In a loser-out game Sunday on the Hailey floor, Refugio Regalado drilled 20 of his 29 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough as Monarcas/Mexicana went home for the season losing 84-58 to Whiskey Jacques. Fernando Murga had 15 for Whiskeys.
There was a mild upset Thursday night.
Sixth-seeded Sturges Productions, behind 29-28 at intermission, stormed back for a 77-65 victory over #5-seeded Whiskey Jacques. Brock Weber (10-for-12 free throws) had 13 of his game-high 23 points after the half for Sturges. Keaton Sturges (four 3-pointers) added 16 points and Justin Herald (three 3-balls) had 17. For Whiskeys, Matt Stacey scored 18, Jeff Jones 12.
The 10-team tournament has two big games tonight, Wednesday on the former high school basketball court.
Phoenix plays last year's champion Sturges Productions at 7 p.m., to be followed by Sawtooth Paint/Soundwave vs. 2001-03 league king Jivaro Headhunters at 8:15 p.m.
The double elimination tournament narrows down further with four games Sunday, March 20. The championship contest is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
In the final regular-season games last Tuesday and Wednesday:
Mike Schletter had 19 and Darrell Tullis 15 as Jivaro Headhunters got past Sutton & Sons 64-49. Steve Anderson (four 3-balls) had 12 and Craig Morse 12 for Sutton & Sons;
Sawtooth Paint/Soundwave outscored Pick-up Boys 89-52. Sean Johnson had 23, Luke Macdonald 18 and David Morgan 17 for Soundwave. Jordan Dale and Kevin Carey each tallied 13 points for Pick-up Boys;
Darrell Tullis (six 3-pointers) scored 25 points and Mike Payne (four 3s) added 18 for Jivaro in its 92-63 win over SV Brokers (Ross McAllister 15, Ephraim Olivera 13); and Sturges Productions nipped Monarcas/Mexicana 58-53. Brock Weber had 15 points and Keaton Sturges 14 for the winners, while Jesus Villanueva netted 22 and Refugio Regalado 18.
