“I think my team last year was better than Lob City,” Charles Alexander said after his team’s big Week 3 win.
Alexander is referring to his RI Warriors team from the Summer 23 season, who played Lob City close in the regular season, but was never able to get that rematch they desired in the playoffs after falling in the Semifinals to the Halfway Crooks. Now Alexander finds himself wearing a purple jersey getting ready to take on the defending champs in Week 4 as both teams enter undefeated.
Lob City is no stranger to success, as they have dominated the Legacy Leagues since its inaugural season in Rhode Island back in 2017. They are winners of the past three championships, and are not slowing down anytime soon.
Last season, they defeated the Halfway Crooks in the Finals to win their seventh Championship in eight Legacy Leagues seasons. While both teams look pretty different from last season, Lob City and the Halfway Crooks are no stranger to big games in the league, both organizations having appeared in every season.
They get ready for a Week 4 matchup that will come down to defense versus offense. Lob City’s biggest advantage lies on the defensive end as they average 4.3 blocks per game as well as 9.0 steals per game. When a team causes this much havoc on defensive, opposing teams must be ready to handle their pressure and equipped with elite offensive talent.
“Defense is how our fast break and our offense is started,” Jordan Grace said. “We get a stop, get the rebound and push the rock. Playing with pace is very important. I know we have some new guys but they are also playing at the same pace.”
The Halfway Crooks may have what it takes to also run with this dominant defense. They have been the most commanding offensive force so far in the league this season, as they are the no. 1 scoring team in the entire league averaging just over 93 points a game. They also have three players averaging over 24.0 points per game, and a balanced scoring attack is key in these highly-competitive games.
Lob City also boasts plenty of offensive talent. One of their newest member, Joseph Sekator, provides another scoring option for this dominant team averaging 28.3 points per game. Lob City’s lineup is versatile and is supported with elite chemistry and communication.
“We communicate a lot when we’re out there, and communication is key,” Sekator said. “We play our roles, and we go out there and play as hard as we can.”
Sekator isn’t the only star on the team as Colin Burns continues his dominance on the court. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 24.0 points per game this season and is a force who constantly puts pressure on the defense by attacking the rim.
The Halfway Crooks will look to counter with three new players who have stood out so far this especially, especially on the offensive end. Reigning Legacy Leagues MVP Charles Alexander is joined by Charles Correa and Ethan Austin which serves as an offensive juggernaut equipped with an ability to space the floor and create open shots.
Correa himself is averaging 6.0 three-pointers made per game on unbelievably efficient shooting. His floor spacing has created space for Alexander and Devon Pina to flourish.
“Even though we have only been playing together a few games, I feel like our chemistry is already there,” Alexander said. “We have a lot of scorers on this team so I don’t feel like I have to try to score 50 points every game.”
These two elite teams are outfitted with their own unique traits giving them their own respective advantages. Both teams have much bigger aspirations for this season than a win in Week 4, but this game could be a preview of a matchup with much higher stakes down the road.
“I just want the championship,” Ethan Austin said. “As long as we get the Championship, I’m satisfied.”