Evening Sun Report

NORWICH – Just as it did last year, Manpower/Pennysaver jelled at the right time of the season.

In the finals of the Norwich YMCA Men’s Corporate Basketball League, Manpower/Pennysaver repeated as league champions defeating Haddad Construction Monday night, 61-57.

Mike Genute led the winning club with 15 points, and was 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final minute. Kamil Alexander added 14 points and at least four blocked shots. Matt Beadle added 10 markers.

“We added a couple of new players this year, and they were integral parts of our team,” said Manpower/Pennysaver captain, Ryan Revoir. “Kamil was probably the best shot blocker in the league, and Cory (Montgomery) gave us a great burst of speed off the bench.”

Haddad Construction won the regular season division league title posting an 8-1 record, the only loss coming in its final regular season meeting against Manpower/Pennysaver.

For its part, Manpower/Pennysaver did not have its full lineup available until the midpoint of the season when it started with a 2-3 record. Following a loss to Haddad, Manpower/Pennysaver won its final four regular season games, and led nearly every minute of its playoff run save the opening 10 minutes of last night’s game.

M/P used an 11-0 run beginning with 9:50 left in the first half to assert command of the contest. Montgomery hit a pull-up jumper for the foul line, and Montgomery tied the game at 18 with a driving basket. Following a defensive stop, Jesse Smith’s runner in the lane put M/P up for good.

Alexander scored in the low post for the four-point lead, then Smith received a perfect pass on the wing from Alexander to can a trey making it a 25-18 game.

Jaret Paul ended the run with a Haddad free throw, but a quick response – a three-ball from Daryl Decker – nudged the lead to nine points.