Tag: Crew

Ricky Bobby photo

Dawg of the Year: Ricky Bobby named Gr3g League MVP

New season, new team, new trophy: Ricky Bobby takes the MVP

Ricky Bobby of the Creston Rock Crew has been named the 2021-22 Gr3g League MVP and takes home the Jackson Walker “Dawg of the Year” trophy, the league announced today.

The lead singer of the band Pretoria (check out there music here!), Ricky Bobby led the Crew to another great year on the court while playing General Manager for the Purple amid a season of roster fluctuation due to work & school schedules, injuries and Covid precautions.

Pretoria music

He finished 2nd in total points (184), games played (14), wins (11), was 7th in PPG (3rd among players playing 10+ games) and was the key contributor to the success of his team throughout the season.

On the All-Time stats list, he ranks 1st in the MVP Race (58.60), 4th in total points (296), 1st in games played (24), and holds a 12.3 PPG overall.

Ricky Bobby played Year 1 with the Greyline Nines, alongside MJ (351 points) and 2020-21 League MVP Los (318 points).

After (his dad) Goolay retired in the offseason, he signed with his hometown Crew to play with Jimmy G and Boog.

While we missed all but one song at his latest gig, here’s a link to the next one!

June 3rd at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, MI

2021-22 “Old School” Player of the Year: Jimmy G

Par for the course, JImmy G medals again

Every team needs a leader that will take the helm during the toughest of times and be there as support when the game plan works to its best possible outcome. Being present and patient is what veteran leadership is all about.

No one does a better job of being the “Old School” man on the floor than the Crew‘s own Jimmy G.

One of the first players to register for the Gr3g League back in early 2020, #13 in purple and gold has been a top recruiter, a mainstay on the court and an avid supporter and very generous donor since Day One.

The league is built for hoopers like Jim.

By far (not by far), he’s the elder statesman playing in the league. And although he’s “not as quick as (I) used to be”, he’s played in 23 of the 25 games for the Crew over the last two seasons.

“Not as quick as I used to be.” -Jimmy G

 

While the buckets weren’t filling up this year for the 50+ year old guard, his presence on and off the court has made a huge impact in the lives on his teammates and the author of this article. So, let’s…Raise 2 Pints

to our 2021-22

“Old School” Player of the Year,

Jimmy G!

 

 

Scotty J photo

2021-22 Week 6 Preview: End of the 1st Half

first half of the season ends tuesday

The first half of the 2021-22 regular season will come to a conclusion on Tuesday night before the Gr3g League takes nearly a month off for the holidays.

7pm game: Championship rematch, part 2

CREW LOOKS TO STAY UNDEFEATED

The Creston Rock Crew will be looking to stay undefeated as they take the home end of the floor playing host to the Red Hawks of Force in the opening game (7pm). Both teams have a different look since the season opener where the Crew defeated the Hawks, 47-38.

Crew 2021Newcomers Ricky Bobby (left) and Proto have led the way for the Crew, according to the MVP Race, but it’s been a collective effort across the board for the Purple. Boog and Jimmy G are playing some of their best basketball to date while the new additions of Gavin and Asian Spice (right) have increased tempo and opened up wide-open pockets to shoot from.

The Crew hasn’t felt the need to take their game outside the 3G line, as they’e attempted the least of any team.

 

For the Hawks, this season has been the perfect storm

Coming off last season’s Championship victory, the team found itself in disarray. Multiple players had secretly positioned themselves to leave the squad for other teams over the summer creating a whirlwind of drama which was at the time only known to league personnel.

During the offseason recruiting process, multiple players had again made it “very clear” they did not want to return to the Hawks. One was even bold enough to tell the league they’d, “found another league to play in and I’m taking some players with me.” (That player no longer plays in the Gr3g League and did not respond to inquiries for a comment.)

The league made the choice to fill the team with incoming players in a huge trade after Week 1 “once the Nines decided how to fill their roster” AND “none of the other Hawks being available or having reached out to the league yet“.

In that trade, the Hawks secured the services of a “team of 4 that will start their own expansion team next season in Orange & Black” consisting of The Juice, AG, ****Mike & Coach Drew to go with  I’ll Will, (pictured below) Cake and newcomer Daniel Bk.

Hawks 2021With Bandit‘s sudden return in Week 4, the Red now have a returning squad of four plus the Orange 4 and part-time available services of Big Baby.

A.G. has lead the way in the scoring department so far this season, only giving way to Bandit this past week against the Buzz. ****Mike is a dominant force on the boards both offensively and defensively. After an injury to his shooting hand, Coach Drew has taken a prominent role on the sidelines as the “voice of the Force” and, not surprisingly, The Juice just keeps finding himself in open space to fire three-pointers in long-sleeves.

This team has taken the most 3G’s this season, a deep contrast to their upcoming opponent.

Continue reading “2021-22 Week 6 Preview: End of the 1st Half” →

Hawks soar to 2021 Championship

Red Hawks leave the Crew behind on way to inaugural Gr3g League title

 

It came down to one final game in the inaugural Gr3g red hawks team photo finalsLeague playoffs on Tuesday night at the Knapp Shack and the Red Hawks Of Force clawed their way to raise the trophy, 55-41, over the Creston Rock Crew.

The Crew got out to a quick 7-0 lead to start the game but found themselves behind 16-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Hawks were able to take a 30-20 advantage at the halftime break and kept their opponents at bay throughout the second half.

 

 

Mr94Feet led the way for the Hawks scoring a game-high 24 points, including 13 in the first nine minutes.

Mr94Feet shoots finals

 

 

Ureste (driving) took top honors for the Crew with 12 points.

Ureste drives finals

 

 

Jimmy G (below) added 11.

Jimmy G shoots finals

the Crew basketball logo

Crew builds the stage, puts on a show, then dims the lights on the Nines

In the race for first place coming out of the All-Star break, the Purple Crew surprised the Greyline Nines with a 56-40 victory.

Loubalance (22 points) and Jackson Sr. (21 points) led the Crew (5-2), who are now considered the league leaders, due to point differential (+81).

Playing in their second game of the night, the 40 points for the Nines (5-2) was their lowest output of the season. While MJ put up 19, Los was held to just 6 points. This time Greyline had the trouble in the middle as the Crew’s Diesel and Spaghetti owned the boards.

 

Pre-Draft trades made to order

Friday night in a dark, smoke-filled room somewhere on the WestSide of Grand Rapids, the six GMs of the Beer City Hoops league got together to prepare for the upcoming draft.

Here are the transactions that took place and have been stamped “Approved” by the Commissioner.

 

  • The Crew is sending the 4th overall pick and #28 to the Reds for picks #11, #17 & #23.
  • The Nines send the 15th overall pick and #27 to the Buzz for picks #19, #25, & #30.
  • City trades F’Legal (2019 draftee) and pick #26 to the Buzz, Buzz sends CASH to Greens, Greens send picks #14 & #20 to City.