Pregame Energy

Kentucky fans showed back up to Historic Memorial Coliseum for another chance to catch the 2025 La Familia squad with a host of familiar faces and a few faces BBN has adopted as their own including DJ Burns now known as the hype man and Karem Kanter, brother to former UK player Enes Kanter. The crowd would be huge all night for La Familia helping build momentum for a wild ending that saw  Anthony Clemmons of Eberlein Drive hit a late game three in the Elam Ending.

First Half 

With a team full of previous college talent and former NBA player Gabe York Eberlein Drive would be a tough task for the La Familia. Eberlein Drive went up early, leading by as many as 11 points, raining three after three and banging down low in the paint. La Familia would find some energy however, Gabe York and Terry Taylor would hit some big shots and combine for 30 points. La Familia would inch within five points entering the halftime break.

Second Half

The start of the second half would become very physical, as La Familia started fighting their way back and making a push to close the gap. DJ Burns was bringing the energy on the court and the sidelines picking up his teammates to pull off the win. La Familia would even go up as many as 8 points late. Going into the Elam Ending where the shot clock would be turned off and the target score was set to 71, La Familia was up 63-58 and needed just 8 points to secure the victory.

Elam Ending 

Eberlein Drive would pick right back up from the 1st half and go on to close in on La Familia. Archie Goodwin had a chance to seal the deal but missed the game winning free throw, shooting, in place of Willie Cauley-Stein in a bizarre turn of events that would take him out of the game with an apparent ankle injury suffered while making a play at the rim and being pushed in the back and out of bounds. Anthony Clemmons would hit a deep NBA range three after several Eberlein Drive failed attempts to seal the win and knock out La Familia for the remainder of TBT play. The team looks to make a return next year with more new faces.

Box Score

https://x.com/thetournament/status/1947815723620770140

Pregame Energy

Kentucky fans showed up to the newly renovated Historic Memorial Coliseum again for another look at the 2025 La Familia squad with past players that everyone loves from the great Coach Cal days of 2015 Willie Cauley-Stein and Harrison twin to the former high energy Murray State Racer DJ Burns Jr., Fans could get attached to this squad in a hurry. The crowd would be a huge factor late in the game to help them pull past a team of former Auburn stars.

First Half 

The SEC foe with the likes of Wendell Green Jr. and others brought it to the Cats from the get go. La Familia got out to an early lead until War Ready started to heat up led by Wendell Green Jr. who was the team’s leading scorer (20 points). La Familia would pull away and lead by as many as fourteen points and before things began to get chippy between the squads ending in 7 technical fouls by the games end. Going into the half La Familia would lead War Ready 44-36.

Second Half

The game became more like a “war”, as War Ready would start to fight back and make a major push. DJ Burns was bringing the energy on the court and the sidelines picking up his teammates to pull off the win. Going into the Elam Ending where the shot clock would be turned off and the target score where 8 points were added to the pre shot clock score, La Familia was up 71-66 going into the Elam Ending.

Elam Ending 

La Familia only needed 8 points which was easier said than done War Ready even tied the game late until Khalil Whitney dove on the ground and gave it to Archie Goodwin who quickly got a shot off the glass to win the game on a game winner as his teammates would storm the court and celebrate. The final score was in favor of La Familia 80-76. Goodwin’s shot moved the Cats to the next round versus Eberlein Drive led by former NBA player Gabe York, Tuesday at 6 PM inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. 

Box Score

https://x.com/thetournament/status/1947037288157810733

Pregame Energy

Kentucky fans packed the newly renovated Historic Memorial Coliseum for its first look at the 2025 La Familia squad with past players that everyone loves from the older days of 2012 Doron Lamb to the new age first Mark Pope squad in Lexington in Ansley Almonor, All fans could get attached to this squad. Fans were up to the Coliseum early to pack it out with over 5,000 fans of the 6200 available seating options. Even before the game many would see the blowout coming. The loud pregame hype fueled the Cats early.

 

First Half

 

However, there were some jitters to open up the game, especially with a brand new roster and brand new pieces, but plenty of former pro talent. The former Cats got to an early lead until Stroh’s squad started to heat up lead by Riley Grigsby (Seattle U) who was the team’s leading scorer (11 points). Later La Familia would pull away and pretty much seal the game as they drained three after three and steal after steal. A pair of twins were shining stars in the early goings as Aaron and Andrew Harrison were shooting very efficiently from the field. The half would come to an end as La Familia would lead Stroh’s Squad 44-29.

 

Second Half

The game became more like an all star game as La Familia would lead by more than fifty points late. Archie Goodwin was on Triple double watch down the stretch, he would come up short finishing with 17 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds. Aaron Harrison and Kahlil Whitney would both add in 14 points a piece. The former cats were far superior to the guys of Stroh’s Squad. Going into the Elam Ending where the shot clock would be turned off and the target score where 8 points were added to the pre shot clock score, La Familia was up 97-50 going into the Elam Ending.

Elam Ending 

La Familia only needed 8 points which was quickly done and the final score was 105-52, La Familia won by 53 points. Ansley Almonor would finish the game off with a game winner to move the Cats to the next round versus War Ready (Auburn) Sunday at 2:30 inside Historic Memorial Coliseum.

Box Score

https://x.com/lukaswitt01/status/1946401201211183215?s=46