Playoff picture is taking shape

With one week remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture in the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission (ESRC) winter basketball league is beginning to take shape.

In Wednesday's marquee matchup, R.R. Frey Services posted a 26-point victory over Ryan's Oil & Heating to ruin the defending league champion's undefeated season.

R.R. Frey Services, Ryan's Oil & Heating and Cuz-N-Joe's Place all clinched playoffs spots with 5-1 records. R.R Frey's can claim the top seed in the playoffs with a win over Cuz-N-Joe's place, while Ryan's can earn the top spot with a win and a Frey's loss.

The last remaining playoff spot is still up for grabs in a do-or-die matchup. Schick's Cafe Calcutta and Pereira's Kwik Stop/Joey B's will take to the hardwoods on Wednesday night with the winner claiming the fourth and final playoff berth.

RESULTS

Longboard Surfers-Pereira's Kwik Stop/Joey B's

Pereira's Kwik Stop/Joey B's kept its playoff hopes alive with a 72-39 thumping of the Longboard Surfers.

Andrew Steinmetz led Pereira's/Joey B's with 16 points, while Tom Kresge followed with 15 points. Paul McArdle and Zach Freed also scored 14 points apiece for the winners.

Frank McDonugh and Travis Williams scored 18 and 16 points respectively for the Longboard Surfers, who played with only four players the entire game.

Midas Touch Hair Salon-Cuz-N-Joe's Place

Cuz-N-Joe's Place received another big game from Jon Veet, en route to a 65-55 victory over Midas Touch Hair Salon.

Veet, the league's leadering scorer, scored 23 of his team's 35 points in the second half and led all scorers with 12 field goals and 29 points. Soko Mujovic also buried five three-pointers for 15 points.

Andrew Michalik scored 13 points for Midas Touch Hair Salon and Ryan Blasko added four treys for 12 points.

The Batter's Box-Schick's Cafe Calcutta

Joe Tamagini had a career night, as he led Schick's Cafe Calcutta to a 77-72 victory over The Batter's Box.

Tamagini was on fire all night, draining 10 three-pointers and leading all scorers with a game-high 35 points. Mark Mazur also chipped in 16 points for Schick's.

For The Batter's Box, Erick Trabal scored 23 points, while Aaron Mantz tacked on 22 in the losing effort.

R.R. Frey Services-Ryan's Oil & Heating

In a rematch of last year's championship game, R.R. Frey Services posted an eye-opening 81-55 victory to hand Ryan's Oil & Heating its first loss of the season.

R.R. Frey's placed four players in double-figures with Dave Wilson leading the charge with 28 points and five three-pointers. Dan Miller added 21 points, while Derrick McFarland and Ryan Achenbach notched 16 and 15 points respectively.

Jeff Peel (14 points, four treys) and Joe Schaeffer (12 points, four treys) paced Ryan's Oil & Heating.

STANDINGS

W L

x - R.R. Frey Services 5 1

x - Ryan's Oil & Heating 5 1

x - Cuz-N-Joe's Place 5 1

Schick's Cafe Calcutta 4 2

Pereira's Kwik Stop/Joey B's 3 3

The Batter's Box 2 4

Longboard Surfers 0 6

Midas Touch Hair Salon 0 6

x - Clinched Playoff Berth

SCORING LEADERS

(in points per game)

Jon Veet (Cuz-N-Joe's Place) 28.80

Dave Wilson (R.R. Frey Services) 21.17

Joe Tamagini (Schick's Cafe Calcutta) 15.80

Brandon DeCosmo (Cuz-N-Joe's Place) 15.60

THREE-POINT LEADERS

Brandon DeCosmo (Cuz-N-Joe's Place) 18

Joe Schaeffer (Ryan's Oil & Heating) 18

Joe Tamagini (Schick's Cafe Calcutta) 16

Jon Veet (Cuz-N-Joe's Place) 16

Dennis McGinley (Schick's Cafe Calcutta) 15

Dave Wilson (R.R. Frey Services) 15

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 14

(at Tamaqua Area Athletic Center)

6:15 - Cuz-N-Joe's Place vs. R.R. Frey Services

7:00 - Ryan's Oil & Heating vs. The Batter's Box

7:45 - Schick's Cafe Calcutta vs. Pereira's Kwik Stop/Joey B's

8:30 - Longboard Surfers vs. Midas Touch Hair Salon