VBL / VWL Week 3
KVBL w/ Sik Wit It
Week 3 of the VBL kicked off with high energy at Hoopers Paradise with the KVBL! Hosted by streetball legend Sik Wit It and Team Timeless head coach Bobby Champion, young hoopers jumped into skill drills, learned flashy new moves, and capped the day with some epic 5v5 action.
The kids were locked in, leveling up their game while having a blast. Big shoutout to our coaches, players, and families for always bringing the vibes to the beach.
Cough Syrup (69) vs Timeless (60)
Cough Syrup grabs first win of the season in a back-and-forth battle
Cough Syrup picked up their first win of the season with a 69-60 victory over Timeless, improving their record to 1-2. Behind a well-balanced offensive attack and disruptive defense, five players scored eight or more points, and the team showed strong chemistry on both ends of the court.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams trading buckets and momentum. The first quarter ended in a 10-10 tie, and the second stayed close as Jamal (#23) poured in 6 of his team-high 14 points to keep Cough Syrup steady. Timeless closed the half on a 6-0 run to even the score at 22-22 heading into the break.
The second half belonged to Cough Syrup. Shamar (#3) sparked the third-quarter run, going a perfect 4-for-4 for 8 points, while Aj Harris (#1) took over the game with his playmaking and intensity. Harris finished with 14 points, 11 assists, and 5 steals — earning him Player of the Game honors. Slim (#5) added 12 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting performance, and Billy Preston (#25) made a highlight-worthy behind-the-back pass that led to a dunk to Jamal, along with two clutch baskets late to help seal the win.
Timeless dropped to 0-3 despite a strong 24-point effort from Juice (#1), who recently rejoined the team after a brief stint with Cough Syrup earlier in the season. Juice got off to a hot start with 10 first-quarter points, including two threes. Clarence Obiajulu added 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting, Mar Harris contributed 10 points (5-of-10 FG), and Marcus Bell Sr. chipped in 8 points on 4-of-6 from the floor.
In his season debut, Marcus Bell Jr. made an immediate defensive impact for Timeless, recording 4 blocks and 2 steals, showing promise as a rim protector and disruptor. Timeless rallied with a late 8-0 run in the fourth to cut the lead to four, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
It was one of the most competitive games of the weekend, with both teams playing with intensity. Cough Syrup’s ability to stay composed and execute down the stretch ultimately made the difference.
WHN (53) vs GRG (22)
WHN stays hot with dominant win over GRG
WHN is on a roll after knocking off the defending champs last week and ending their two-season undefeated streak. They carried that momentum into Week 3 with a dominant 53-22 win over GRG, improving their record to 2-1. WHN controlled the game from start to finish with a balanced offensive attack and relentless defense that set the tone early.
The game opened with an 8-0 WHN run, led by Player of the Game Lasha Petree her VWL season debut, who finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Amiah Simmons also added 17 points on a lights-out 7-of-9 shooting performance, including two three-pointers that stretched the lead. By halftime, WHN had built a commanding 30-10 lead and never looked back.
Alisha Wilson brought the toughness inside, finishing with 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Jordan Jackson (5 points) and Icey (4 points) also contributed to WHN’s well-rounded effort as they cruised to a 31-point win — their most convincing victory of the season.
On the other side, GRG struggled to find consistent scoring support. Despite falling to 0-3, the team showed flashes of promise. After WHN’s hot start, GRG got on the board with a free throw from Vee, and later gained some momentum in the second quarter thanks to Jayza’s three-pointer and a pair of buckets from Keena Lawson.
GRG’s best stretch came in the third quarter, fueled by Lawson’s back-to-back threes. She finished as the game’s top scorer with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. Allahya added five points late in the third, including a strong finish and two made free throws to help close the quarter.
While WHN continues to establish themselves as a top contender in the VWL, GRG is showing signs of growth and competitiveness as they look to turn the corner heading into Week 4.
Hoopbus (43) vs Lady Sweat (38)
Hoopbus holds off Lady Sweat in a thriller, remains league’s only undefeated team
In a tense and high-stakes matchup, Hoopbus improved to 3-0 with a gritty 43-38 win over Lady Sweat, handing the defending champs back-to-back losses for the first time in two seasons. After knocking off Lady Sweat last week, WHN cracked the armor — and Hoopbus followed up with a statement win, solidifying their spot as the VWL’s only undefeated team.
The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with several lead changes and momentum swings that kept VBL fans on edge. Player of the Game Baller Bree (#1) delivered a spectacular performance, dropping 24 points on 67% shooting from the field, a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, along with 4 assists and 1 steal. Bree set the tone early, scoring 8 points in the first quarter to help Hoopbus build a 12-7 lead.
Lady Sweat responded in the second quarter with a 7-0 run to briefly take a 14-12 lead, but Hoopbus countered with key buckets from Drew Edelman (#30) and Janae aka MissTattedBuckets (#2). Edelman finished with 7 points, while Janae added 6 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting night. Hoopbus entered the break up 20-16 and came out strong in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 32-24 behind a 5-point burst from Edelman.
Lady Sweat wasn’t going down without a fight. The defending champs showed championship grit, cutting the lead down to just one late in the fourth quarter. Ruth (#4) led the charge, scoring 8 of her team-high 13 points in the final frame, including a clutch bucket that briefly gave Lady Sweat a 38-36 lead. Chy (#0) added 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting, while Lala (#33) chipped in 7 points and kept the energy up throughout the game.
But when it mattered most, Hoopbus locked in defensively and closed the game on a 7-0 run, getting key late buckets from Bree and Janae to ice the win and remain unbeaten.
Lady Sweat now falls to 1-2 suffering rare consecutive losses but showing they’re still a top-tier squad with the ability to compete every game. Hoopbus, meanwhile, continues their hot streak and will enter Week 4 as the team to beat in the VWL.
Westside War (52) vs Crept Protect (48)
Westside War survives a battle to stay undefeated
In a thrilling matchup that came down to the final minutes, Westside War stayed perfect at 3-0, grinding out a 52-48 victory over a shorthanded but scrappy Crept Protect squad. The game was packed with lead changes, clutch plays, and standout performances on both sides, with Kaison Randolph (#13) and Corey Hall (#5) leading Westside with 14 points apiece.
Crept Protect came into the game missing key pieces, but that didn’t stop them from coming out swinging. Solo (#1) was on fire early, dropping 11 points in the opening quarter to fuel a dominant 16-7 start. He finished with a game-high 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Marshawn (#4) added 17 points on an efficient 53% clip, while Blane (#11) knocked down a timely three to help Crept Protect maintain their edge heading into the final period.
The first quarter belonged to Crept Protect, who used a 9-0 run to build early momentum after quick buckets from Randolph and Rick Maganga. Westside slowly climbed back, with Jordan Roach (#3) stopping the bleeding with a much-needed three. By halftime, thanks to key plays from Daniel Estes and Corey Hall, Westside had tied it up at 22-22.
The third quarter stayed tight, but Crept Protect edged ahead again, leading 37-35 going into the fourth and stretching it to 45-41 midway through the final frame. That’s when Kaison Randolph flipped the switch.
Player of the Game, Randolph, delivered in crunch time, scoring five of his 14 points during the Gamebreaker ending, including a cold-blooded clutch three and a highlight iso sequence — a smooth hesi-spin-scoop layup that had the crowd buzzing. The War closed on an 8-0 run before TJ Mann (#30) hit a huge three to cut the deficit to one, but Westside held firm down the stretch to seal the win.
Randolph finished with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while Maganga chipped in 7 points on 3-of-5 from the field. The balanced effort included five players scoring 4+ points, showcasing the War’s depth and poise under pressure.
Though Crept Protect drops to 1-2, their energy and execution especially while missing key players showed they’re a serious threat moving forward. But for now, Westside War remains unbeaten, proving they can win ugly, win late, and win as a unit.
Tru Height (66) vs Hidden Empire (65)
Tru Height survives thriller in Gamebreaker finish
In one of the most exciting games of the season so far, Tru Height escaped with a dramatic 66-65 win over Hidden Empire, improving to 2-1 in the standings. The game was a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final possession, with Brandon Towns finding Amos Hines for the game-winning layup under the leagues Elam ending.
Hidden Empire came out hot, starting the game on an 8-2 run and riding that momentum to a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Young Mouth buried back-to-back threes, and Nezlo TV and Amir Smith were on fire early on. Hidden Empire held a 30-28 edge at halftime.
But Tru Height refused to fold. Led by Brandon Towns and Will Brooks, they chipped away at the lead in the second quarter. Brooks was a force inside, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting, while Towns dropped 10 points in the first half alone to keep them within striking distance.
The third quarter belonged to Tru Heights. With Mark Chin heating up from deep and Wes Harris contributing timely buckets, they surged ahead 51-43 heading into the final frame. Chin knocked down three big triples on his way to 14 points, while Harris added 8 points and crucial energy during the run.
Hidden Empire responded in the fourth behind Bernard Ireland, who finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting. He scored 7 of those points in the closing minutes to help reclaim a 65-64 lead. Amir Smith was flawless, adding 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, and Nezlo TV stayed hot with 12 points on 6-for-6 from the floor.
But when it mattered most, Brandon Towns (14 points, 10 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals) delivered a clutch pass to Amos Hines, who finished the game with 8 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals, including the game-winning layup. It capped off a complete team effort and a thrilling finish for Tru Heights.
Despite the loss, Hidden Empire (1-2) proved they can compete with anyone in the league.
BBJ (80) vs United Nation (59)
BBJ continued their dominant start to the season, improving to 3-0 with an impressive 80-59 win over United Nation. The squad came out firing behind a 10-0 first quarter run, setting the tone early with contributions from Zach Hinton and Hezi God. BBJ’s offense clicked all game, with seamless ball movement and defensive intensity leading to their largest win of the season.
Player of The Game Hezi God was unstoppable, finishing with 39 points, 7 assists, 2 steals, shooting 13-of-24 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the line. Zach Hinton stayed perfect from the field (10 pts, 5-5 FG), while Messiah Bryant added an efficient 10 points of his own. BBJ’s lead ballooned to 28 points in the second half, as they overwhelmed United Nation on both ends.
Despite the loss, United Nation had offensive bright spots. Obi lit it up from deep, hitting 6 threes on his way to 26 points (9-11 FG), and Oz followed up with 24 points (11-13 FG). Jamaican Jay added 7 points on a perfect 3-for-3. The young squad showed fight and elite efficiency, but couldn’t slow down BBJ’s high-powered attack.
And finally—Intern Watch™, Marty aka “Marty McFly” made his VBL debut and might’ve just interned his way out of the scoring table job. He blocked Hezi God at the rim, and threw the iso card like he was trying to update his 2K rating, and played with zero fear. After that performance, we might have to hire a new stat keeper—Marty’s officially a VBL hooper.