MEMPHIS: Memphis Swag keeps their cool and scores first win of season over heavily favored MonStars

Story by Brandon Parham

After a week lay-off, play resumed in the Collierville Ultimate Hoops League will a full slate of games.

The game of the night was saved for the final match-up between the 0-4 Memphis Swag and the 4-1 MonStars, who were coming off a 97-95 overtime win against the Northstars ust 10 minutes prior to tip-off.

The Memphis Swag notched their first win of the season in against the heavily favored MonStars team in the evening's nightcap.

The MonStars just didn't have the legs to go 2-0 in the double header. The issue was exacerbated by team captain, Tyjuan Wallace, as he lose his cool in the early minutes against the MonStars, earning a double technical called and ejection from from the game. The MonStars were within 7 points at the time of Wallace's ejection and did their best to keep the game close but Memphis Swag had fresh legs and smelled blood in the water.

With the MonStars having to play the majority of 2nd half with only 4 players on the court, Memphis Swag took full advantage at both ends of the floor. Memphis Swag played a swarming trapping defense with the extra defender and moved the ball rapidly on the offensive end taking advantage of the MonStars man disadvantage. The MonStars tried to slow the pace of the game and protect the basketball and take smart shots but Memphis Swag just had too much energy having only played one half of basketball and having 5 players versus a MonStars team that had just played a full game plus overtime and a first half of this game.

Memphis Swag team captain, Taylor Faught, saw this a pivotal moment for his team this season.

"I think this is a huge momentum win for us. I knew we could win this game coming in though. We played them really tough the first time we saw them (a 91-90 win for the MonStars) and felt like if we'd gotten a few calls our way here or there that game may have turned out differently. The guys came out ready to play and not thinking about the fact that we still hadn't won a game this season. We can still win our next 3 games, finish 4-4, and make some noise in the playoffs. Memphis Swag is definitely still a contender."