Str8 Takes Care of Business -- Ready for Rematch with Triggers Down in Finals
By blandestk | Published: November 9, 2009 1:44am EST
 Carbon faced an uphill struggle in the Losers Bracket Finals: a 3-1 deficit to second-seeded Str8 Rippin. At stake for both teams was a spot in the Championship Match against Triggers Down. Through the first couple games of the continuation series, Carbon looked as if they might be able to pull off the monumental comeback. Game 5, Team Slayer Narrows, went to Carbon by the score of 50-46. The game was close the whole way, but Naded's 15-10 was enough to push Carbon over the top. With the series at 3-2, the score seemed manageable for Carbon, especially as they mounted a 4-1 lead in Game 6's Capture the Flag Onslaught. If they had won, the series would have been even and momentum would have been squarely with Carbon. Instead, Str8 somehow managed four straight scores to win the game 5-4 in overtime. Every player from Str8 had a positive kill-to-death ratio. The loss must have been infuriating for Carbon, who were now down 4-2. Str8 seized the forward inertia and dominated Game 7. They won Team Slayer Amplified 50-29, thanks in large part to Elamite's 18-7 performance. With Tsquared patting his belly to signify the steaktacular, Str8 Rippin set their eyes on closing out the series. Now up 5-2, the series looked to be Str8's to lose. Carbon did not quit, however, as they won Game 8, King of the Hill Construct, despite facing a hole of nearly a minute halfway through the game. Naded again led the statistics table for Carbon, logging 24 kills to just 19 deaths. Carbon had complete control through the closing ticks, winning 250-196. The win for Carbon narrowed their deficit to 5-3. The lower seed then scored the first capture on Narrows Capture the Flag, showing they were not yet willing to quit. But Str8 tied the game, weathered a few runs from Carbon, and finally pushed two relatively easy scores across the plate to win 3-1. Legit and Snipedown both posted 14-7 affairs, helping Str8 to the 6-3 series victory. Their win set up a continuation series with Triggers Down in the Championship Match. Carbon leave the tournament wondering what might have happened if they had held on to win Game 6. |
