The basketball tournament’s $1 million prize contention tightened following the completion of the last two quarterfinal matches on Monday night. Best Virginia, composed of West Virginia alumni, secured a semifinal spot by beating Shellshock, a team of Maryland alumni, on July 31st. Meanwhile, Eberlein Drive triumphed over Sideline Cancer by a double-digit margin in the final quarterfinal game.
The victorious Eberlein Drive will next compete against We Are D3, a team loaded with Wichita State alumni that advanced by defeating Fail Harder on Sunday night. Here’s a recap from Monday’s tournament action:
Eberlein Drive outpaced Sideline Cancer 88-75. They established a 10-point lead early, with Sideline Cancer narrowing the gap in the second quarter, ending halftime at 44-33. The third quarter extended the battle, but both teams were quiet in the fourth, scoring just 18 points combined. Entering the Elam Ending—where the game clock stops and a target score is set—Eberlein Drive led 79-62 with a target score of 87. Alonzo Verge Jr. led Sideline Cancer with 22 points, while Gabe York topped all scorers with 23 for Eberlein Drive.
Best Virginia defeated Shell Shock 74-61, building an early lead of 19-9. Shell Shock kept pace in the second quarter but entered halftime trailing 32-24. The second half was closely contested, but Best Virginia pulled ahead during the Elam Ending. With a target score of 73 and a 65-54 advantage, Shell Shock couldn’t catch up, and Best Virginia closed the match confidently. Andre Fox scored 13 points off the bench for Shell Shock, while James Reese V led all players with 24 points for Best Virginia.
Fan Take: This tournament highlights the competitive spirit and talent forged in college basketball alumni teams, giving fans a thrilling showcase beyond the collegiate stage. The innovative Elam Ending format also keeps games intense and unpredictable, adding excitement that could influence the future of basketball competitions.
