Following wins by Penn State’s Happy Valley Hoopers and WVU’s Best Virginia, the Herkimer Originals are looking to break the trend of alumni team victories at The Basketball Tournament’s Pittsburgh Regional.
UConn’s alumni team, the Stars of Storrs ranks as the top seed at the regional tournament and is making its TBT debut this season.
Quarter 1
Both teams knock down a pair of threes early, but Herkimer Originals cannot take advantage of Javon McCrea’s seven rebounds, causing The Stars of Storrs to lead 12-8 with 3:21 remaining as the first media timeout is called.
Out of the timeout, Stars of Storrs begin to take control, stopped in their tracks only by a late three from Jay Farrow, which is matched by RJ Cole’s deep three to end the period.
The Stars of Storrs lead Herkimer Originals 19-13 entering the second quarter.
Quarter 2
Herkimer Originals gets two quick scoring opportunities to start the quarter, as Khapri Alston manages to grab an offensive rebound over three Stars of Storrs defenders, but they cannot convert to scoring. The Connecticut alumni come back the other way and get a TJ Maston layup.
Both teams waste possessions before the Stars of Storrs get three extra points thanks to a contested, falling Ryan Boatright. Kevin Briggs matches it for Herkimer Originals, and Ben Walters gets another after a Deandre Daniels free throw for Stars of Storrs, which Alston matches after the three. Herkimer Originals trails 25-20.
RJ Cole gets the UConn team back to scoring, squaring up for a mid-range shot to go up seven. Herkimer Originals cannot score at the other end, but the Stars of Storrs turn the ball over with a defensive three-seconds violation before tipping a Herkimer Originals miss out of bounds to cue the media timeout. The Stars of Storrs lead 27-20.
Phillip Bledsoe draws a dead ball foul out of the timeout, but Herkimer Originals fails to score again off the inbound pass, leading to a quick two-point sequence for Elijah Thomas. Javon McCrea matches it with a jump shot to stop the cold slump.
After Joshua Gregory makes a free throw, the Stars of Storrs turn the ball over, allowing for another bucket by McCrea. Elijah Thomas matches it and draws the foul but misses the three-point chance at the line. McCrea tries to draw a foul of his own but travels instead.
Jerome Dyson makes one of two at the line for the Stars of Storrs before each team misses a scoring opportunity. Herkimer Originals turns the ball over, and Dyson gets fouled at the other end for two more made free throws. The Stars of Storrs lead Herkimer Originals 34-25.
Connecticut’s alumni go for two three-point attempts with just under a minute left, but the second airballs to give Herkimer Originals possession. Out of the timeout, McCrea turns the ball over, giving the Stars of Storrs the last scoring opportunity. RJ Cole gets to the line and makes the second to extend the lead to 10.
The Starrs of Storrs lead Herkimer Originals 35-25.
Quarter 3
A Herkimer Originals miss turns into an Elijah Thomas layup, assisted by Ryan Boatright. Thomas fouls Phillip Bledsoe on the next possession, but Bledsoe misses both attempts at the line. Herkimer Originals fouls then calls a timeout.
The Stars of Storrs get nine quick points out of the timeout, in form of two free throws, a floater, a transition layup off a steal, and a Ryan Boatright three. Jeremiah Sparks matches it as Herkimer Originals breaks the quick run.
Jay Farrow knocks down a three after an offensive goaltending call leaves the Stars of Storrs scoreless. A long sequence keeps the ball by the Stars of Storrs’ basket until TJ Maston gets open for the assist from Boatright.
Khapri Alston draws a foul on a made layup but misses the free throw, which is rebounded by Maston. The ball goes up and down the court a couple of times before RJ Cole draws a foul to knock down his second free throw at the line. He misses the second to become two of four from the line on the night. The Stars of Storrs lead 51-32.
Elijah Thomas fouls, triggering a response and technical foul from Jeremiah Sparks. Herkimer Originals makes both free throws, as do the UConn alumni.
Herkimer Originals gets two more free throws before the Stars of Storrs knock down two field goals. Sparks gets to the line and makes another pair to match them.
Maston scores for the Stars of Storrs, but Herkimer Originals cannot keep the points trading going. The former Huskies and Herkimer Originals each struggle to score on the next several sequences before Jeff Adrien finds Maston with a nice dime from the free throw line to the right block.
TJ Maston continues to heat up, stopping his quick moves to lose the defender and make a mid-range shot from the left. Herkimer Originals cannot get another bucket, and the Stars of Storrs end the quarter leading 63-38.
Quarter 4
One minute goes off the clock before the first points of the quarter go to Maston. Boatright knocks down a free throw before Torrence gets the first points of the quarter for Herkimer Originals.
Jerome gets two free throws before several scoreless possessions by both teams. Joshua Gregory scores for Herkimer Originals and RJ Cole matches it soon after as the elim ending draws nearer. Gregory scores again, this time with a three, with just under five minutes remaining.
Ryan Boatright gets one on the line but misses the second before Maxwell tips it in for the last points of the timed period. Stars of Storrs leads 76-47 entering the elim ending. The target score will be 84 points.
Elim Ending Period
The Stars of Storrs get the first points of the untimed period as Purvis makes a layup. Maston gets another before Purvis hits a three that is matched by Joshua Gregory.
Symir Torrence gets two more, but Elijah Thomas is found wide open under the basket in the next possession. He dunks it with two hands for the victory.
The Stars of Storrs defeat Herkimer Originals 85-52.
Photo from The Basketball Tournament
