With historic comeback, Defrancesco ends Conley family dominance ; Wade family cashes in.
After a 5 year reign of dominance, the Conley family has been knocked off of the points and attendance perch. For the first time since record keeping began, James Defrancesco edged out Josiah Wade by $1 to capture his first points and attendance crown, walking away with $37 for the weekend. Wade, who finished second, is no stranger to the role of bridesmaid. This was the third time in six years that he has come up just short of capturing the crown (2010, 2012, 2015). He walked away with $36 for the weekend, and his son, Jace Wade, had his best career performance taking third place with $35. 2015 also marked the narrowest margin between first and third place in record keeping history.
Josiah got off to a quick start winning a carryover points pot for session 3 and 4 as well as the first two attendance pots for a total of $32 on day one, making it appear that he may give Chet's all-time record of $53 in winnings from 2012 a run. However, a winless day on Friday opened the door for the field as Jace won a carryover points pot and Brandon Shilling nabbed two attendance pots. Defrancesco didn't capture a points or attendance pot until session 8.
Saturday set the stage for a competitive battle, and the most historic final-day winnings in record keeping history. Defrancesco did not appear to be a threat as heading in to the final day as it appeared as though the Wade family would be cleaning house. Jace held the top spot with $35, followed by Josiah with $32Josiah. The next closest competitor was Don at $19.50. Both Kyle and Javan made it interesting winning two pots a piece on Saturday, but it was Defrancesco who stole the show.
Defrancesco rattled off a split points pot and 3 of the 4 attendance pots, including the final attendance pot of the weekend to surge ahead and capture the crown. Defrancesco's $28 Saturday winnings marks the largest final-day comeback of any competitor to win the title.
On the other side of the ledger, the weekend saw the last two champions (Seth - 2014, Micah - 2013) go winless for the weekend and set the record for largest weekend loss ($24). One of the most interesting stats is that unlike Josiah's balanced winnings ($20 for points and $16 for attendance), Defrancesco won $33 of his $37 off of strictly attendance pots.
Josiah got off to a quick start winning a carryover points pot for session 3 and 4 as well as the first two attendance pots for a total of $32 on day one, making it appear that he may give Chet's all-time record of $53 in winnings from 2012 a run. However, a winless day on Friday opened the door for the field as Jace won a carryover points pot and Brandon Shilling nabbed two attendance pots. Defrancesco didn't capture a points or attendance pot until session 8.
Saturday set the stage for a competitive battle, and the most historic final-day winnings in record keeping history. Defrancesco did not appear to be a threat as heading in to the final day as it appeared as though the Wade family would be cleaning house. Jace held the top spot with $35, followed by Josiah with $32Josiah. The next closest competitor was Don at $19.50. Both Kyle and Javan made it interesting winning two pots a piece on Saturday, but it was Defrancesco who stole the show.
Defrancesco rattled off a split points pot and 3 of the 4 attendance pots, including the final attendance pot of the weekend to surge ahead and capture the crown. Defrancesco's $28 Saturday winnings marks the largest final-day comeback of any competitor to win the title.
On the other side of the ledger, the weekend saw the last two champions (Seth - 2014, Micah - 2013) go winless for the weekend and set the record for largest weekend loss ($24). One of the most interesting stats is that unlike Josiah's balanced winnings ($20 for points and $16 for attendance), Defrancesco won $33 of his $37 off of strictly attendance pots.
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Tim Rogers - JJHuddle Writer
For the most part the weekend was free of controversy. But the one controversial moment was a doozy. It might have cost Cleveland Central Catholic a Division II state title and I hate it when that happens. Not that it happened to CCC, but that it happened at all. By now anyone who cares is aware of how the Ironmen lost a 49-45 decision in overtime to Defiance, with senior Antwon Lillard hanging on the rim after scoring what appeared to be a game-clinching slam dunk with 40 seconds left and the Bulldogs using the blunder to score the game-tying points to force overtime. The consensus from people I spoke with: It was the CORRECT call but was it the RIGHT call? There’s a difference. Lillard, who had played a marvelous game to that point with a game-high 24 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots, clearly pulled himself up — chin-up style – and swung on the rim with his legs practically parallel to the floor. Technically, it was the correct call. But, the dilemma facing all officials at every level is this: Do you make the call in that situation? Had the call been made in the middle of the second quarter it would not have drawn a similar uproar. I do not have an answer and that’s precisely why I have never, ever held ambitions of becoming an official. |