Peabody, MA – The Peabody Hitmen did what they do best Wednesday night—score buckets, protect the paint, and send their rivals home with their tails between their legs. In a game that had more drama than a reality TV reunion special, the Hitmen took control early, weathered a few haymakers from the Hayforks, and closed the deal with a 119-105 victory.
Leading the charge? None other than Zhong “Certified Bucket” Zongkang, who dropped 28 points on an absurdly efficient 9-for-13 shooting and casually swished 8-for-8 from the line like he was born for it. Which, by the way, he might have been. We’re currently fact-checking.
Big Men, Big Results
The frontcourt was a war zone, and Egon Pevec was the guy who showed up with the biggest gun. 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists—just another day at the office for the 6’5” Swiss Army Knife of Pain. He teamed up with Patrick Rees (13 points, 17 rebounds, +20 impact on the floor) to turn the Hayforks’ inside defense into an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Meanwhile, Cleo Matthews and Giocondo Mainardi reminded everyone that this isn’t just a one-man show, dropping 14 points apiece and keeping the scoreboard operator busy.
And let’s talk about the defense. The Hitmen made Hayforks’ Charlie Swanson (11-24 FG, 1-9 from deep) look like he was shooting with oven mitts. The team stuck to the game plan, clogged passing lanes, bullied shooters, and made every possession a struggle.
Next Up: The Playoffs – David vs. Goliath, but With More Trash Talk
With the regular season in the books, the Hitmen are now locked into a first-round playoff battle against the league’s top dog, California Supreme. Yes, the same California Supreme that thinks they’re too good for a normal name and has been steamrolling opponents like a runaway shopping cart.
It’s a best-of-three series, meaning every possession, every rebound, and every questionable ref call will be magnified. The Hitmen will need Zhong to keep cooking, Pevec and Rees to dominate the boards, and the bench to step up big-time.
The odds? Not in their favor.
The confidence? Unshakable.
Game 1 tips off Tuesday night. Grab your popcorn, hold onto your seats, and prepare for playoff basketball, Hitmen style.
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