Prime Time League Game 3: Commissioner's Report

By Randy M. Larson
Prime Time League Commissioner


Prime Time's 3rd set of games tipped off July 1 with the frontline of Gabe Olaseni/Devyn Marble/Kyle Meyer on the LL Pelling/McCurry's team vs. the big 4 of the Vinton Merchants/Gatens team, Zach McCabe, Adam Woodbury, Jarrod Uthoff and Josh Oglesby.  Gabe Olaseni showed he is developing quickly as he posted 20 points and 7 rebounds, going mostly up against Woodbury, who had 8 and led all rebounders with 14.

However Gabe shot 9-15 from the floor and 2-2 from the free throw line while Adam was 4-16 and got no charity tosses.  The defense on Devyn Marble was pretty good, holding him to 6-19, including 0-5 from 3, to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists but Marble's team prevailed pretty easily,

98-84 after leading 51-40 at half time.  

Ali Farokhmanesh made all four of his four attempts from beyond the arc, as both teams shot the 3 well, with his team shooting 8-19 and Josh Oglesby leading the losing team with 4-6 on 3's and his team shooting 9-18.  Neither Uthoff nor McCabe attempted a 3.  McCabe's line was  5-14 and 2-2 from the line, for 12 points, and he had 8 boards and 1 assist.  Uthoff shot 4-8, scoring 8, and grabbed 8 rebounds to go with  2 assists.  Oglesby added 4-5 on 2's, to his 3-point sharpshooting to score 20, to go with 2 boards and 1 assist.

My critique of the game was that the Pelling team worked harder, passed it better and stayed close on the boards, losing by 2 to the bigger Vinton team.  Woodbury rebounded extremely well and stayed out of foul trouble but struggled to finish his moves against Olaseni (as most will), as the Pelling team stayed at home on the good exterior shooters.  Olaseni showed he can make his mid-range jumper a bit, although it still is flat, and that he is going to be in the mix for playing time in the Hawkeye frontline this fall.  Next to Basabe, he may be the team's best shot-blocker.  

The second game of the afternoon matched the Jill Armstrong trio of super-recruit Mike Gesell, Melsahn Basabe and Jarryd Cole vs. Culver's stars, Aaron White, Eric May and incoming Iowa recruits Anthony Clemmons and Kyle Meyer.  If you remember Meyer being on the Basabe/Cole team originally, that's exactly right, as we moved him to replace an injured player, Dain Swetalla, on the Culver's team.  He should see more action too, as playing time behind Cole and Basabe is obviously limited.  

The story of this game was Mike Gesell and Melsahn Basabe teaming up for 57, shooting very well, with Mike going 9-13 on 2's and Mel going 14-23.  Gesell added 2-5 shooting on 3's, and 5 rebounds and 4 assists.  You'd be hard-pressed to find an observer who doesn't think he's the starting point guard for the Hawks this fall from day one.  Basabe was unstoppable, and shot 4-5 from the line too, while controlling the boards and the lane together with Cole, grabbing 9 boards and even getting 2 assists.  Cole led the way with 12 rebounds, and led with 5 assists too, as well as shooting 7-11 and scoring 14.  Michael Aldeman from Mid-Prairie and DMAC added 12 on 4-6 shooting from 3.  

Eric May was a perfect 7-7 from the line and 5-9 on 2's, to score 17 to go with 6 boards and 0 assists.  White scored 19 but needed 15 shots to make 6, with one missed trey, and shot 7-10 on free throws. White was a powerhouse on the boards against Basabe and Cole, grabbing 17.  He has 2 assists.  But even in Prime Time, you can't give up 109 and win.

Kyle Meyer played well too, especially considering the matchups he faced, shooting 7-12 on 2's, 0-1 on 3's, and posted 14 points and 12 boards.  He's niftier than he looks and seemed in this 3rd game of the summer to relax and show what he can do.  Clemmons continued his consistently strong defensive play but I don't believe anyone will stop Mike Gesell and he didn't.  Anthony scored 8 on 4-9 shooting and had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.  Keith Steffeck from William Penn scored  13 on 4-7 shooting from 3.  

Games resume Sunday July 8 at 3 and 4:30 in the free and air-conditioned environment of the North Liberty Rec Center.  Game Time games resume Wednesday July 11 and continue Mondays and Wednesdays the rest of the way, with the championship Wednesday the 25th.  All league details and stats can be found at www.primetimeleague.com.