The Albany Patroons have fought their way back from adversity throughout this entire postseason. In the opening playoff round, they lost the first of a three-game series against Atlantic City, only to sweep the Gambits in Games 2 and 3 at the Armory to advance.
They then had to hold off the Huntsville Hurricane in two straight matches at the Armory, including chopping down a 16-point deficit in Game 2 to advance.
Then they lost the first of a three-game run to the Kokomo BobKats, only to punch through and take Games 2 and 3 in the Armory’s friendly confines.
And now we’re in the TBL finals. And once again, the Patroons are behind the 8-ball. They dropped their first game to the Shreveport Mavericks on the road. Mike Williams got injured and he’s out for the rest of the playoffs. And in Game 2 at the Armory … Anthony Moe got whacked in the knee in the first quarter, and had difficulty competing for the rest of the game.
You know what? Next man up. The Patroons’ bench woke up, and BJ Glasford and Kameron Williams stomped on the Shreveport Mavericks’ heart, and the Patroons won Game 2 112-102.
So what does this all mean?
Game 3 at the Armory tonight. On the 7th day of the 7th month, the Patroons are in their seventh franchise finals. One game for all the marbles. One game for the championship. One game for the trophy. One game to claim the Pats’ fourth franchise championship (to go with the 1984 and 1988 CBA titles and the 2019 TBL title).
It’s also a chance for Albany to set a new home winning streak record. The Pats have won their last 28 home contests. They have not lost a home game IN THREE YEARS. Not since 2019, when they lost a double-overtime heartbreaker to the Jamestown Jackals. And in those 28 wins, the Patroons claimed the 2019 TBL title, they dog-walked the NBL Canada’s London Lightning earlier this year in an interleague matchup; and they sent their opponents out of the Armory every single time.
Patroons fans, unite. This is our time now. As far as anyone’s concerned, we are defending our 2019 championship. The 2020 season was curtailed by COVID-19. The 2021 season was derailed when the Armory was used as a vaccination center. And now we’re back. And we’re ready to slap some heads and chomp on some crawdads.
Tonight. July 7th. At the Armory.
Be there.
BE THERE.
Chuck The Writer 
Good for them! Sounds like a game worthy of a packed house.
I tried to learn a little about the Mavericks online.
FWIW, McAfee gives their site – shreveportmavericks.com – a “(?)” and says “This link is unknown.”
Now that doesn’t bode well for them.
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