HBL Champions
In a season of ups and downs, all teams went 4-4, and all 2-2 against each other, in a true display of the competitiveness of the league. Every team had it's high points (Lightning going 4-0 in Weeks 2 and 3) and low points (everybody going 0-2 at least once).
It was decided that they would draw out of a hat, with one team earning a "bye" into the Finals to play the winners of the other two after a one-game playoff. The Warriors received the bye, and faced the winner of the SabreCats-Lightning playoff, which turned out to be the Lightning. Thus, the stage was set for the 1998 HBL Finals.
The first game in the best-of-3 was won in a tight one by the Warriors, with the game showing the true fire that represents the HBL, and both teams looking good. However, the second game was a Warriors blowout which turned out to be a chance for Jon and Chris to show off their skills, with multiple dunks and 3-pointers to add a little sting to an already-painful loss for the Lightning. After the game, the Warriors had repeated as HBL Champions.
Aside from the new league format, the 1998 season was the first year with any kind of All-Star events, as Skill events took place in mid-season, including a 1-on-1 tournament (won by Batz Hartley), a 3-pt. shooting contest (won by Chris Hartley) and a Horse contest (won by Jon Hartley). It was a big year which even saw the league start appealing to a small group of loyal fans who came every week to relax and catch some basketball.
Now with just 3 teams, it was familiar territory as the HBL reverted back to its 1998 format. Another plot twist came, however, when Bill 'The Kid' Carter, in the midst of a repeat of his hilariously bad 1997 performance, decided not to show up one Sunday. PureSugar was hastily signed to take his place, and joined Domino, who was doing it all for the Titans. They formed a wonderful combination, and through Pure's best shooting streak ever, they finished the season 7-6 overall, a surprising record for the team everyone thought would be in the gutter.
But this was the SabreCats' year. They completely ran through the competition, going 10-3, only losing a few close ones in the process. How dominating were they? The three games they lost were by 1, 2, and 3 points. Two of those losses came in overtime. Jay Hartley had the season of a lifetime, eventually earning him the HBL MVP Award, as Joker (formerly 'Batz') earned a third straight rebounding title.
The Warriors and Titans had to face each other to see who would meet the first-place SabreCats in the HBL Finals, and unsurprisingly, the Titans swept the Warriors with relative ease. The Warriors, looking out of synch and un-motivated, were blown away in the second game with easily the most amazing three-point shooting performance in HBL history, as Domino and PureSugar took turns bombing on the two-time champs.
This set up an HBL Finals in which the SabreCats were heavily favored, as the SabreCats had never lost to the Titans in the regular season, frustrating Domino in the process, something which no one else could seem to do to the 1999 Scoring Champion. However, Game 1 was a surprise to the SabreCats, as the Titans brought the same game with them that annihilated the Warriors, as they became the first team to beat the Cats by double figures in 1999. With their backs against the wall in Game 2, the Cats came up big despite a nagging injury Joker sustained early in the game to his ankle. The Titans still played very well, and the Cats seemed to have almost 'lucked it out'. In the decisive Game 3, both teams could really feel the tension. Unfortunately, it seemed that Domino's magical shooting streak had come to an end, as he tried again and again to hit from downtown, but couldn't... slowly losing the game in the process. The SabreCats were in full force in Game 3, dominating inside and out, with Jay's outside quickness and Joker's inside strength. Although PureSugar nailed some threes late, it wasn't enough as the SabreCats became 1999 HBL Champions!
Then, with three years under its belt, the HBL looked toward a fourth year in 2000.
The Titans and Warriors, however, struggled heavily. The Titans couldn't find their identity without 1999 Scoring Champ Domino Hendrickson, and dropped games with both Jesse Ristow and Ryan Pranschke subbing in for Domino. Meanwhile, the Warriors seemed to continue their slump from 1999, losing close games and having trouble defensively, although Shooter was magnificent at times.
Then, the course of the season changed forever when Bryce found himself unable to continue playing due to schedule conflicts. This brought Ryan Pranschke into Bryce's spot, where he would find his home for the rest of the year. By now, Domino was back and the Titans would also find their rhythm. The Lightning did struggle as Ryan tried to fill Bryce's shoes, but found their way and finished the season very respectably, competing for first place up until the final week.
The Titans immediately picked up where the Lightning left off, thrashing their way through the HBL. They continued their awe-inspiring winning streak against the once-great Warriors, which dated back to Week 3 of 1999. They also showed they had covered their Achilles' heel with some surprisingly decisive victories over the 1999 Champion SabreCats. As the Warriors continued to flounder, this brought us to the most exciting conclusion in league history, as three teams were vying for first place right up to Week 8, the final week of the season.
The SabreCats came into the week with a slight grip on first, holding a 9-5 (.643) record. Meanwhile, the Titans at 6-4 (.600) and the Lightning at 8-6 (.571) trailed closely behind. In the first game, however, the SabreCats eliminated the Lightning from the running, with a 44-35 victory. This left the Titans and SabreCats left, with the SabreCats now at 10-5 (.667). In what would be a faceoff for first-place, the Titans and SabreCats played the next game. It would be the last game in the season for the SabreCats, and if they won they would clinch first place and a first-round meeting with the last-place team, the Warriors. However, in one of the most highly-contested games in HBL history, PureSugar's four second-half threes and some key Domino shots and free-throws sealed the game for them, making the Titans 7-4 (.636) and the SabreCats 10-6 (.624).
It wasn't over yet, however. The Warriors, coming off a victory in the next game over the Lightning, had a chance to change it all. If the Warriors beat the Titans, they'd drop to 7-5 (.571) and end up in second-place after all. Needless to say, the SabreCats were crossing their fingers, but the Warriors still hadn't cracked the Titans record winning-streak over them. Despite 10 threes from Shooter Hartley and being within three in the last minute, the Warriors couldn't do it, and the Titans earned first-place in the 2000 Regular Season, a sign of things to come.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Lightning and SabreCats faced off to see who would go to the Finals. In a gritty, close series that was more about fouls and rebounds than threes and layups, the two teams battled it out like gladiators. The SabreCats won the first game somewhat comfortably, but Joker was still on a bad knee, and in the second game, things didn't look good. The Lightning had a 3-point lead with seconds left in the first overtime, and with their superior conditioning, a third game would surely belong to them. However, Jay Hartley pulled off a wonderful three-point shot to take it into a second OT, and there the SabreCats pulled it out for good, although KG and Ryan made an excellent account for themselves.
In what looked like a easy to predict first-round series, the Titans faced the Warriors on the other side of the bracket. The Titans, now on a 9-game winning streak over the Warriors, looked to go into the Finals easily, as PureSugar atested to time and time again. However, from the start of their first game, it was obvious things wouldn't be so easy for the Titans. The Warriors controlled the game all the way through, getting their best performance from Dee Hartley of the entire year. They ended up pulling out the first game, and the Titans looked as unconfident as they ever have going into Game 2. With their backs against the wall, they still were being defeated, as the Warriors were up late in the second half and just minutes from meeting the SabreCats in the Finals. However, the Titans stepped up big-time, proving themselves true champions as they came back, winning that game and controlling the third all the way through, to advance past the closest playoff series of all time.
This set up a rematch Finals between the SabreCats and the Titans, that was unfortunately more hype than substance all the way through. The Titans seemed to have the SabreCats number, who struggled all day, while an increasing division among a few players and fans overshadowed the actual games that day. Beneath the controversy of a rift between some of the players and fans, there was a pretty good series played, however. Domino was finally able to play to his ability against the stifling Cats defense, and Pure, while underwhelming on offense, shocked everyone by playing excellent defense on former MVP Jay Hartley. Unfortunately for the SabreCats, Joker was too hobbled from injuries to contribute as he usually could, and his chemistry with Jay was now blown to pieces after a couple of argument-riddled seasons. The SabreCats' magic was gone, and they passed the torch to the Titans that day.
When the Titans did win their first title, not everyone was happy for them, to say the least, and in one of the saddest moments in Hartley Basketball League history, a few fans didn't clap one single time, let alone congratulate them. The conduct of the SabreCats themselves(Joker did congratulate the Titans later) was similarly disappointing.
After three years without HBL seasons, it's likely that everyone's learned that it's not always who wins and who loses--but being able to play the game with your friends--that's important.
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