Opening week of Season 44 delivered everything fans could hope for — nail-biting finishes, breakout performances, and a few statement wins that already have the league buzzing. Let’s break down the highlights from Week 1 and look ahead to the marquee matchups on tap for Week 2.
Equitable Rallies in Thrilling Comeback
In one of the most dramatic finishes of the week, Equitable stormed back late to defeat CPD 60-55. Down 55-52 with just over a minute to play, George Lawley came up clutch, drilling back-to-back threes to swing the momentum and seal the win. TJ Morris chipped in a steady all-around performance with 12 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists. CPD was led by Andre Frederick, who dominated inside with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Shaun Jerdel added 9 points, 13 boards and 5 assists.
Swift Home Loans Survive in One-Point Nail-Biter
The tightest contest of the week came down to the wire, as Swift Home Loans edged Surgical One 53-52 in a free-throw-shy finish. Antonio Green powered Swift with 23 points, while Jordan Robbins kept Surgical One in it with a gritty 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.
KIG Holds Off Athletico Behind Sharpshooting
KIG took control in the second half and held on for a 65-60 victory over Athletico. Eli Sterin hit a dagger three with two minutes remaining to stretch the lead, and the duo of Ryan Otis (24 points, 8 rebounds) and Sterin (17 points, 9 rebounds) carried the scoring load. Athletico’s Bennie Szczepkowski kept his squad within striking distance, finishing with 20 points and 8 boards.
SIG’s Star Power Too Much for Lit Financial
The highly anticipated matchup between the top two draft picks showcased plenty of talent, but in the end, experience won out as SIG pulled away 82-64. Cody Borst nearly posted a triple-double with a dominant 29 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Mark Ghafari added 24 points and 8 rebounds. No. 1 overall pick Karim Murray showed flashes of his potential for Lit Financial, dropping 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Michael Campbell notched a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds).
Play For a Cause Opens Strong Behind Harris
Play For a Cause started their campaign in style with a 72-57 win over Datasite, fueled by a league-best 31 points from Airrington Harris, who also dished 6 assists. Alec Rood added 15 points — all from deep — while Hunter Young (16 points) and Alex Phillips (13 points, 5 assists) paced Datasite in the loss.
Rock City Stuns Defending Champs
The defending champion Goldstein Dental squad came out flat in their opener, falling 71-50 to Rock City Logistics. Logan Ryan was an absolute force on the glass, hauling in an eye-popping 26 rebounds to go with 14 points. Hayden Croff (20 points) and Ryan Tokowitz (16 points) provided the offensive spark. Gerald kept Goldstein within reach for stretches, finishing with 23 points and 8 rebounds, but without Lavell, the champs couldn’t find their rhythm.
Dedicated Real Estate Cruises Past Benzinga
Veteran leadership set the tone as Dedicated Real Estate rolled to a 77-61 win over Benzinga. Rich Katona poured in 22 points, while Zef Dema added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in a balanced attack. Connor Cleary led Benzinga with 12 points and 8 boards in the loss.
Wallside Windows Dominates Gatorade
Wallside Windows delivered the most lopsided result of Week 1, dismantling Gatorade 75-50. Dylan Bressler dropped 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, but it was Josh Birnberg who turned heads with a stat-stuffing performance — 0 points, but 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and 6 steals in a true team-first effort. Gatorade saw four players reach double digits, but none scored more than 11, and the balanced attack wasn’t enough to keep pace.
Week 2 Games to Watch
🔹 Rock City Logistics (1-0) vs. SIG (1-0)
An early-season showdown between two powerhouses. Logan Ryan’s monster 26-rebound performance put the league on notice, but can Rock City slow down Cody Borst and SIG’s high-powered offense?
🔹 Dedicated Real Estate (1-0) vs. Play For a Cause (1-0)
Two unbeaten teams square off in what could be the game of the week. Scoring machine Airrington Harris leads the league in points, but DRE’s tough, veteran squad, led by Zef Dema and Jordan Buchanan, will be ready.
🔹 Equitable (1-0) vs. Goldstein Dental (0-1)
The champs are looking to bounce back after a humbling Week 1 loss, but Equitable is riding momentum and has been one of the league’s most consistent squads in recent seasons. Expect fireworks as captains Lester Houge and Cody Potter try to keep Equitable rolling.
🔥 Season 44 is off to a thrilling start, and if Week 1 was any indication, we’re in for one of the most competitive seasons yet. If you have any stats or noteworthy news that you feel should be mentioned regarding your team, feel free to shoot me a text at 530-923-1178 or an email and I will be sure to mention it. Good luck to everyone this week!