rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
The 1-on-1 tournament is over, and Unrivaled has returned to 3×3 play.
During the final two games of Week 4, we saw Rose out-execute Vinyl late to win 61-55, while Laces beat Phantom 75-68.
Rose rises over Vinyl
For Rose, Chelsea Gray reminded everyone why she is the Point Gawd. She had 26 points, including the game-winner. Angel Reese had a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Brittney Sykes scored 17 in the victory. Vinyl had a two-headed monster with Dearica Hamby scoring 22 points and Rhyne Howard contributing 24, but the duo didn’t get much help from the rest of their team, and that was the difference in this game.
In the opening quarter, everything went Rose’s way. They led 13-2 at the end of the period, as Vinyl couldn’t buy a bucket.
While such a poor start could bury a team, Vinyl persisted. Howard and Hamby got going, and after an Aliyah Boston free throw, they trailed by just one point with under a minute to play in the first half. Sykes scored another basket for team Rose, and they led by three entering the third quarter.
As third quarter wound down, Vinyl had completed the comeback, taking a 43-41 lead with less than two minutes left in the period thanks to a Rae Burrell basket. Gray then caught fire, scoring seven-consecutive points for Rose, giving them a one-point edge before the consequential fourth quarter.
With the final quarter untimed and the winner decided by whichever team reaches the target score, the Unrivaled format set up an an exhilarating end to this contest.
Reese converted a two-point free throw to give Rose the lead, but Hamby countered with a two-pointer from the charity stripe for Vinyl. She scored another two points for Vinyl, and then Rose took over. They went on a 7-0 run to set themselves up for the win, with Gray closing things out with a bucket over Hamby.
Phantom continues to struggle
Phantom lost again, this time to Laces, who were without Alyssa Thomas, Kate Martin, Tiffany Hayes and Jackie Young.
Laces, however, had Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was brought in on a relief player contract, and immediately made an impact, scoring 23 points. That’s more than anyone on Phantom had in this contest.
Kayla McBride also had a big game for Laces, leading the team with 30 points. For Phantom, everything was a struggle. Sabrina Ionescu had a team-high 16 points, but couldn’t get going from deep, shooting 2-for-9 from a 3-point range.
In the first half of the opening quarter, Phantom was able to keep up with Laces. After a basket by Britney Griner the game was even at eight with 3:08 left in the first. But Laces finished strong, going on a 9-0 run and leading 19-13 after one. Laces stayed in control for the rest of the half. Stefanie Dolson was a star in her role, scoring clutch buckets and cleaning up the glass. She ended the night with eight rebounds.
In the third quarter, Satou Sabally and Natasha Cloud got the scoring started for Phantom, putting their club within two points. After Kayla McBride then made a 3-pointer for Laces, Phantom stayed in the game with a basket from Katie Lou Samuelson, evening the score at 61 until McBride scored from the line, which put Laces in front by two heading into the closing quarter.
Despite Phantom staying close, it never felt like they’d put it all together. Laces scored six unanswered to start the fourth, and Phantom never got close again. Laney-Hamilton, in her first game in Unrivaled, closed things out and delivered a fifth win for the Laces.
Key takeaways
With a month left, it’s not looking good for Phantom. They can’t find a rhythm, rack up wins, or beat a weak Laces squad missing four players. In a league filled with parity, Laces now have the second-best record, behind unbeaten Lunar Owls.
Rose is beginning to shape up. They are now 4-4 and will take on the Lunar Owls on Friday. A win in that game would be a huge upset and keep the momentum they’ve begun building in their favor. Vinyl may have lost on Monday, but they are just a game behind Rose and two games back of Laces for the second spot, so there is still time for them to make noise in Unrivaled.
