Max's All Stars fall short in Riverside Classic semis

Max's All Stars fell short in the Winter 2013 Riverside Classic Unlimited League semifinals, losing to Team Flipstar by a final score of 49-37. It was an ugly game from start to finish, lots of turnovers, missed opportunities - just downright sloppy basketball. In the early going, Max's All Stars matched Team Flipstar basket for basket, but then things stalled offensively and the deficit went to as many as 11 in the first half. By halftime, Max's All Stars narrowed it down to single digits, but in the second half Team Flipstar again kept pushing the lead up to around 10-12 points. But Max's All Stars would not go gently into that good night, tying the game on a huge Anthony Gill 3-pointer with less than 5 minutes to play. Unfortunately, Team Flipstar went on a 13-1 run to close the game out and advance to the championship. Dave Seagers played a great game, hitting two big 3-pointers during the second half comeback attempt. Patrick James was terrific also, playing aggressive defense while pushing the pace, getting out in transition and drawing fouls. Branden Gibson, Mike Orock and Troy Marcus also played hard. Marvin Jr Billups showed up late in the second half and tried to save the day, but it was not meant to be.
Despite the loss, Max's All Stars have a lot to be proud of. After struggling in the regular season this team came together, won two playoff games and advanced to the Final Four despite a constantly evolving roster. Every game someone new would step up and play well. It is a true testament to the character of each man who represented Max's All Stars.