SEMIFINAL PLAYOFFS
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUR | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 59 |
| HAW | 12 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 46 |
Game Significance
Win-and-clinch scenario for Burnside Breakers
Game Context
Season series: Burnside Breakers leads 4-1
Box Score
| Player | PTS | FG | 3P | AST | STL | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnside Breakers | ||||||
| Kai Ripley | 18 | 7-14 | 3-6 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| River Stone | 29 | 13-25 | 3-4 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Ash Torrent | 12 | 6-14 | 0-3 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Reed Calloway | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawthorne Hammers | ||||||
| Steel Voss | 14 | 5-18 | 1-9 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Blaze Caldwell | 16 | 7-12 | 2-4 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Ember Kine | 16 | 7-24 | 0-5 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Cinder Holt | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Play-by-Play
115 possessions- Q1 9:36 Kai Ripley hits the elbow jumper, Steel Voss a step late +2
- Q1 9:13 Steel Voss fires from three — off the rim, Kai Ripley contesting. Steel Voss grabs the offensive board
- Q1 8:58 Ash Torrent fires from three — off the rim, Ember Kine contesting. Ash Torrent fights for the offensive rebound
- Q1 8:40 Blaze Caldwell pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Ash Torrent in the face. Steel Voss with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q1 8:18 Ash Torrent slashes past Ember Kine for the layup +2
- Q1 8:02 Ember Kine can't connect from beyond the arc. Ash Torrent pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q1 7:46 River Stone fires from the elbow — off the iron. Ember Kine clears the glass
- Q1 7:29 Ember Kine drives on Ash Torrent — blocked at the rim. Ash Torrent grabs the board
- Q1 7:08 River Stone attacks the basket — and it's good +2
- Q1 6:51 Steel Voss drives on Kai Ripley — finishes at the rim +2
- Q1 6:30 Ash Torrent gets careless and Blaze Caldwell pounces
- Q1 6:12 Ember Kine fires from the elbow — off the iron. Kai Ripley grabs the board
- Q1 5:49 Kai Ripley takes it to the hole — can't finish. Ash Torrent with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q1 5:28 Steel Voss drives on Kai Ripley — finishes at the rim +2
- Q1 5:10 Kai Ripley connects from deep — Steel Voss too late on the close-out +3
- Q1 4:54 Ember Kine slashes past River Stone for the layup +2
- Q1 4:36 River Stone draws the foul on Blaze Caldwell — heads to the stripe — misses from the stripe
- Q1 4:19 Ember Kine pulls up mid-range — rattles out, River Stone in the face. Ash Torrent pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q1 4:03 River Stone drives on Blaze Caldwell — finishes at the rim +2
- Q1 3:42 Ember Kine can't get the mid-range to drop. Blaze Caldwell fights for the offensive rebound
- Q1 3:26 Ash Torrent drives on Ember Kine — blocked at the rim. Blaze Caldwell corrals the defensive rebound
- Q1 3:09 Steel Voss takes it strong to the hole — converts +2
- Q1 2:50 [No-Look Pass] River Stone with the smooth mid-range — bucket +2
- Q1 2:28 [No-Look Pass] Ember Kine stops, pops — money from fifteen feet +2
- Q1 2:10 [No-Look Pass] Ash Torrent stops, pops — money from fifteen feet +2
- Q1 1:48 Steel Voss loses the handle — River Stone with the steal
- Q1 1:25 River Stone can't get the mid-range to drop. Steel Voss corrals the defensive rebound
- Q1 1:01 Steel Voss can't find a shot — shot clock violation
- Q1 0:41 [No-Look Pass] River Stone pulls up from mid-range over Blaze Caldwell — good +2
- Q1 0:24 Foul called — Ash Torrent hacks Ember Kine going up — hits 2 from the stripe +2
- Q1 0:03 Ash Torrent pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Ember Kine in the face. Ember Kine corrals the defensive rebound
- Q1 0:00 Steel Voss pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Kai Ripley in the face. Ember Kine fights for the offensive rebound
- Q2 9:44 River Stone pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Blaze Caldwell in the face. Kai Ripley grabs the offensive board
- Q2 9:20 Ember Kine drives on River Stone — blocked at the rim. Ash Torrent pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q2 8:57 Kai Ripley hits the elbow jumper, Blaze Caldwell a step late +2
- Q2 8:35 Steel Voss connects from deep — Ash Torrent too late on the close-out +3
- Q2 8:11 Ash Torrent slashes past Ember Kine for the layup +2
- Q2 7:54 Blaze Caldwell can't get the mid-range to drop. Ember Kine grabs the offensive board
- Q2 7:32 River Stone slashes past Blaze Caldwell for the layup +2
- Q2 7:10 Steel Voss pulls up mid-range — rattles out, River Stone in the face. Ember Kine with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q2 6:52 Ash Torrent takes it to the hole — can't finish. Ember Kine grabs the board
- Q2 6:35 Ember Kine drives on Ash Torrent — finishes at the rim +2
- Q2 6:20 River Stone takes it to the hole — can't finish. Steel Voss corrals the defensive rebound
- Q2 6:00 Ember Kine draws the foul on River Stone — heads to the stripe — misses from the stripe
- Q2 5:42 River Stone takes it to the hole — can't finish. Blaze Caldwell grabs the board
- Q2 5:22 Steel Voss fires from three — off the rim, Kai Ripley contesting. River Stone clears the glass
- Q2 5:03 Kai Ripley loses the handle — Steel Voss with the steal
- Q2 4:44 Ember Kine fires from the elbow — off the iron. Second chance! Steel Voss snags the offensive rebound
- Q2 4:25 Ash Torrent can't connect from beyond the arc. Second chance! Kai Ripley snags the offensive rebound
- Q2 4:05 Blaze Caldwell hits the elbow jumper, Kai Ripley a step late +2
- Q2 3:48 River Stone drains it from three over Blaze Caldwell +3
- Q2 3:30 Blaze Caldwell connects from deep — Ash Torrent too late on the close-out +3
- Q2 3:06 Ash Torrent loses the handle — Steel Voss with the steal
- Q2 2:49 Ember Kine fires from three — off the rim, Kai Ripley contesting. Steel Voss fights for the offensive rebound
- Q2 2:34 River Stone slashes past Blaze Caldwell for the layup +2
- Q2 2:17 Ember Kine can't get the mid-range to drop. Kai Ripley corrals the defensive rebound
- Q2 1:54 Ash Torrent fires from the elbow — off the iron. Ash Torrent grabs the offensive board
- Q2 1:32 Steel Voss can't connect from beyond the arc. Steel Voss fights for the offensive rebound
- Q2 1:09 Ash Torrent attacks the basket — and it's good +2
- Q2 0:51 Ember Kine drives on Kai Ripley — blocked at the rim. Steel Voss fights for the offensive rebound
- Q2 0:30 Ember Kine strips Ash Torrent — stolen
- Q2 0:13 Ember Kine gets into the lane but Kai Ripley forces the miss. Steel Voss with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q2 0:00 River Stone pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Steel Voss in the face. Second chance! River Stone snags the offensive rebound
- Q3 9:44 Ember Kine takes it strong to the hole — converts +2
- Q3 9:20 Kai Ripley fires from three — off the rim, Blaze Caldwell contesting. Ash Torrent grabs the offensive board
- Q3 9:03 Shot clock expires on Ember Kine — the defense locked them down
- Q3 8:41 River Stone pulls up mid-range — rattles out, Blaze Caldwell in the face. Ember Kine grabs the board
- Q3 8:19 Foul called — Ash Torrent hacks Steel Voss going up — hits 3 from the stripe +3
- Q3 8:03 Steel Voss fouls Kai Ripley on the drive — to the line — hits 1 from the stripe +1
- Q3 7:41 Steel Voss launches from deep — no good. Ash Torrent clears the glass
- Q3 7:18 Ash Torrent hits the elbow jumper, Ember Kine a step late +2
- Q3 6:59 Steel Voss fires from the elbow — off the iron. Blaze Caldwell with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q3 6:38 Ash Torrent can't connect from beyond the arc. Ember Kine pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q3 6:20 Blaze Caldwell takes it to the hole — can't finish. Ash Torrent corrals the defensive rebound
- Q3 6:01 River Stone fires from the elbow — off the iron. River Stone with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q3 5:46 Steel Voss fires from the elbow — off the iron. Ash Torrent grabs the board
- Q3 5:30 Kai Ripley fires from three — off the rim, Steel Voss contesting. River Stone fights for the offensive rebound
- Q3 5:09 Blaze Caldwell takes it strong to the hole — converts +2
- Q3 4:54 Kai Ripley slashes past Blaze Caldwell for the layup +2
- Q3 4:35 Blaze Caldwell attacks the basket — and it's good +2
- Q3 4:18 Kai Ripley fires from three — off the rim, Steel Voss contesting. Ember Kine pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q3 3:54 Blaze Caldwell drains it from three over Ash Torrent +3
- Q3 3:37 River Stone takes it strong to the hole — converts +2
- Q3 3:14 Steel Voss fires from three — off the rim, Kai Ripley contesting. River Stone corrals the defensive rebound
- Q3 2:54 Kai Ripley connects from deep — Blaze Caldwell too late on the close-out +3
- Q3 2:33 Steel Voss launches from deep — no good. Ember Kine grabs the offensive board
- Q3 2:16 [No-Look Pass] Ash Torrent stops, pops — money from fifteen feet +2
- Q3 1:58 Blaze Caldwell launches from deep — no good. Blaze Caldwell grabs the offensive board
- Q3 1:40 River Stone gets into the lane but Blaze Caldwell forces the miss. Ash Torrent fights for the offensive rebound
- Q3 1:19 Steel Voss gets into the lane but Kai Ripley forces the miss. River Stone corrals the defensive rebound
- Q3 0:57 River Stone drives on Blaze Caldwell — finishes at the rim +2
- Q3 0:42 Steel Voss drives on River Stone — finishes at the rim +2
- Q3 0:23 Ash Torrent gets into the lane but Ember Kine forces the miss. Steel Voss grabs the board
- Q3 0:05 Ember Kine drives on Ash Torrent — blocked at the rim. Ash Torrent corrals the defensive rebound
- Q3 0:00 River Stone fires from three — off the rim, Blaze Caldwell contesting. Ash Torrent fights for the offensive rebound
- Q4 Ember Kine hits the elbow jumper, River Stone a step late +2
- Q4 Kai Ripley drains it from three over Steel Voss +3
- Q4 Blaze Caldwell takes it strong to the hole — converts +2
- Q4 [No-Look Pass] River Stone hits the elbow jumper, Blaze Caldwell a step late +2
- Q4 Blaze Caldwell can't connect from beyond the arc. River Stone grabs the board
- Q4 Kai Ripley pulls up from mid-range over Steel Voss — good +2
- Q4 Blaze Caldwell slashes past River Stone for the layup +2
- Q4 Kai Ripley drives on Steel Voss — blocked at the rim. Blaze Caldwell grabs the board
- Q4 Steel Voss launches from deep — no good. Ember Kine with the putback opportunity — offensive rebound
- Q4 [No-Look Pass] River Stone pulls up from mid-range over Blaze Caldwell — good +2
- Q4 Ember Kine launches from deep — no good. Second chance! Blaze Caldwell snags the offensive rebound
- Q4 [No-Look Pass] River Stone from downtown — splash +3
- Q4 [No-Look Pass] Ember Kine with the smooth mid-range — bucket +2
- Q4 Steel Voss strips Kai Ripley — stolen
- Q4 Ember Kine fires from three — off the rim, Ash Torrent contesting. Ember Kine grabs the offensive board
- Q4 Kai Ripley fires from the elbow — off the iron. Second chance! Ash Torrent snags the offensive rebound
- Q4 Ember Kine attacks the basket — and it's good +2
- Q4 River Stone drives on Blaze Caldwell — blocked at the rim. Ember Kine pulls down the defensive rebound
- Q4 Ember Kine can't connect from beyond the arc. Steel Voss grabs the offensive board
- Q4 [No-Look Pass] River Stone connects from deep — Blaze Caldwell too late on the close-out +3
Simulation Report
The Burnside Breakers came into the playoffs as the only team that felt like a sure thing, and in Game 1 of their semifinal against the Hawthorne Hammers, they looked exactly that. A 59-46 final — thirteen points, in a format where Elam Ending activated and every possession carried playoff weight — is not a close game dressed up in tense clothing. That is a team that dominated when domination mattered most. River Stone's 29 points in 3-on-3 basketball is a number that stops you cold. In a half-court game with a 15-second shot clock and no hiding, that kind of output doesn't happen by accident. The Breakers are now one win from the finals, against a Hammers team that finished the regular season seven games behind them and has spent the postseason looking like it.
The other semifinal told a different story entirely. The St. Johns Herons walked into Rose City, absorbed everything the Thorns threw at them, and left with a 56-51 win in a game that also reached the Elam. Rose City's Hazel Blackthorn and Rosa Vex combined for 41 points and it still wasn't enough. Wren Silvas's 24-point performance for St. Johns was the kind of effort that reshapes a series before it really begins — and it matters that the Thorns, seeded second, finished the regular season 2-2 against the Herons. This is not a mismatch. This is a rivalry opening in the worst possible place for the home team.
What separates Round 10 from every regular-season game that came before it is simple: Burnside can now close out a series in their next game, while Rose City can't afford to lose another. The Breakers have beaten Hawthorne three out of four times this season, and now hold a 1-0 series lead. The Thorns, meanwhile, are chasing from behind against a team they couldn't solve tonight. History leans on Burnside's side — two championships in the league's record books, both under their banner — but the Herons just proved they can take a game in hostile territory.
The governance window is open this round, and the league is deep enough into the playoffs that any rule change adopted now would shape the finals, not just a round robin. What the teams vote for — or whether they vote at all — could define the championship before it even tips off.