Who knew the story lines kicking off the 2024 USABA goal ball season would include the Rattlesnakes’ second round victory over the Manticores today at the Southwest Regionals? Fans like me had no doubts that last year’s repeat National champions would run through the field with as much ease as they did many tournaments last year.
Yet, the Rattlesnakes had a whole other thing in mind-lock-down defense. And that’s what they played from start to finish in their game against the Manticores. They filled the gaps, clogged up the angles and…oh, yes…scored a bunch of points in so many ways.
Of course, that didn’t diminish the complete dominance that the Manticores showed in their first and third round games against the Chicago Fury and Utah Raptors respectively. Zach Buhler’s scoring punch was simply on fire and everyone they brought along got in the game. When their day was all said and done, they’d mercied the the team from Utah 16-6.
Another story line to watch came in the scoring dominance of King Cobras’ star, Darryl Walker. The Rattlesnakes simply had no answers to his relentless and accurate shots. He didn’t stop with game first round but kept pouring it on regardless of who they faced in the next two rounds. Of course, he’d be the one to take most of the penalty shots, too. Who would block them? In short, if Walker’s performance keeps up, we are talking an easy MVP status for him during the first tournament.
A final line to follow is that of the Maryland Minks’ women’s team. Without last year’s champs, the NJ Honeybees there, it has become a matter of how much the Minks will win by, not if they’re going to collect the victories. Brianna Pumphfree and Britany Breen were on fire from the offensive and defensive perspective. Credit to Alvin Suarez for coaching this team to their first few victories so far in this tournament.
Of course, others on various teams gave a great accounting of their skill including the Fury’s Juan Gonzalez, the ECA Reapers’ Jeremy Capati, and the Rattlesnakes’ Will Lopez and Jim Debus.
Let’s anticipate more great play-by-play call by Bill and Darryl over the USABA’s Youtube channel as the y bring us tomorrow’s excitement. We’ve got just a few more games to go before we’re in elimination rounds. For a full rundown of all the results from today throughout the weekend, visit http://www.goalballscoreboard.net.
Looking forward to the games and more discussion on the live chat that USABA’s YouTube channel provides.
Boldly Blind 