Church Ball: Joe's Team vs Dominators

Basketball season is underway at Utah State University. Players are lacing up their Nike shoes, stepping onto the court and hitting clutch shots in their battles for the championship.

But it’s not a Western Athletic Conference championship that these players are fighting for, it’s a church ball league championship.

Joe’s Team played the Dominators on Thursday in the first game of the USU church ball league hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The game was played at the LDS church on 950 N 1200 E in Logan.

Joe’s Team had a huge height disadvantage which translated into a easy 76-35 win for the Dominators.

“They were just too tall and out rebounded us the entire game,” 6’2’’ center Michael Kennedy said. “That guy had at least 10 or so inches on me.”

The Dominators came out strong with a 13-0 run, but after a few minutes, Joe’s Team adjusted to the defense and cut the lead scoring a few baskets of their own.

But hopes of a come-back before half time was dashed after Joe’s Team starting point guard Andrew Flink went down with a possible ankle sprain and did not return until the start of the second half.

Not only did Joe’s Team lose Flink, but Dominators shooting guard Trenton Harris caught fire hitting four three-pointers in the last five minutes of the half.

“I just had a lot of space and knocked down my shots,” said Harris. “Then after the second shot I felt hot so I took two more and knocked them down also.”

Harris ended his night 8-9 from beyond the arc and was the high scorer for the Dominators.

Changes to stop Dominators center Chris Allen were made by Joe’s Team after half time by switching to man-to-man defense.

Though Joe’s Team slowed down Allen, they could not stop Harris, and 10 minutes into the half the scoreboard read 24-58.

“They just couldn’t miss and we couldn’t work it inside with their big men guarding down low,” Flink said. “He swatted me like twice and after that I wasn’t too keen on driving on him again haha.”

The final buzzer rang and a defeated Joe’s Team walk off the court.

“I blame it on the refs,” said Kennedy. “OK no, we just sucked tonight.”

Joe’s Team will look for their first win when they play the Lunatics next Thursday.