- May 3, 2024
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The Moody Homes team. Photo by Ray Boone
All In Ball In team captain Jimmy Gonzales (left) argues with teammate Scott Smith after the loss. Photo by Ray Boone
David Madzunovic banks in an open layup during the second half of the Adult Basketball League championship game. Photo by Ray Boone
Giovanni Aybar (left) and Scott Hurd celebrate after Moody Homes' win. Aybar was named the tournament's MVP. Photo by Ray Boone
When Don Smiley’s wide open layup found the bottom of the basket, he and his teammates could finally rest.
Behind Smiley’s game-deciding layup, Moody Homes staved off a ferocious second-half comeback to defeat All In Ball In 57-55 in the championship game of the city of Palm Coast’s Adult Basketball League at Buddy Taylor Middle School on Wednesday, July 19.
Smiley and Giovanni Aybar led Moody Homes with 12 points each, and teammates Simon Lewis and David Madzunovic chipped in nine points and eight points, respectively.
All In Ball In’s Tyler Hopkins led all scorers with 18 points.
Thanks to an even dose of scoring and defense, Moody Homes — which defeated Ball Is Life by a single point in the semifinal round — was in control from the tip off, leading by as much as 14 points throughout the first half.
A high-arching, buzzer-beating floater by All In Ball In’s Scott Smith cut Moody Homes’ lead to 31-22 at the half.
However, behind 11 second-half points from Hopkins, All In Ball In crawled back into contention with about 10 minutes to go in the game.
A contested layup by D.J. James, who scored 11 points on the night, tied the game with nearly eight minutes left, and a 3-pointer by Brian Armand on the next possession gave All In Ball In its first lead of the game at 46-45.
Both teams traded baskets in the final minutes, but a questionable layup attempt by Smith with about 20 seconds remaining gave Moody Homes the opportunity to put the game away in the closing seconds.
Aybar was named the tournament's MVP.
