The second game took a quite different turn as Joel jumped out to an early lead on Matthew. Matthew fought back, even taking the lead late in the game, but Joel wasn't going to let Matthew take a three game lead in the series; he knew that would be a large deficit to overcome. He blasted forth energy and exuberance, simply out ballin' Matthew in the end and taking the second game of the day.

Though both players were tired from gut-asserting basketball, they agreed to play a third game. Matthew guts must have felt more assertive at that point because he found a way to pull the game out, giving him a 6-4 lead in the series and a pretty good feeling about the way things were going.

Well, the good feelings Matthew had after Monday's games were utterly obliterated in the Tuesday morning games. Joel drove on Matthew like Matthew was one of those junkyard cars in a monster truck arena and Joel was the monster truck. Matthew's jump shots looked like they were being shot by ostrich, and most importantly, Joel hit threes like he was hitting something that's really easy to hit. Joel took the first game 21 - 13, and after that shameful defeat, Matthew gathered himself mentally. His shots still weren't falling but he was able to post up well in the second game and he started driving to the hoop more efficiently. Most importantly though, Matthew's defense picked up in the second game. The two were neck and neck the whole way. Joel had a slight lead at 19 - 18 but Matthew posted up like nobody's business, taking the lead 20 - 19. Joel dribbled slowly outside the 3-point line as if he were about to make a move inside. He took one step towards Matthew but quickly reversed motion and pulled up for the 3-pointer, something Matthew was unprepared for seeing as Joel only needed 2 points for the win. The shot flew through the air like a Canadian Goose on it's way to Canada and gave the net a kiss on it's way through the hoop. Unbelievable. Matthew had lost two games straight and Joel had tied the series.

But the competitors weren't done for the day. About 6:30 they hit the court for another session, Matthew hoping to redeem himself. He looked good in the first game, taking mostly high-percentage shots and being efficient on defense. In the end he pulled a close game out, regaining the lead in the series.

The second game was more intense then a game between the inhabitants of intenseville. Matthew feeling that if he could win the game he would have the series. Joel utterly shut down Matthew's lanes to the hoop so the big man began taking more jump shots. They fell like a leaf on an autumn day; graceful and beautiful. Joel played harsh, quick, and low to the ground; getting to the hoop on some monster-truck-like drives and nocking down threes as if they were bowling pins and his middle name was "Strike". The two were locked at 13 - 13 when Mr. Joel Strike Pinckney struck twice in a row, putting him at 19 and leaving Matthew at a seemingly uncomebackable 13. But the big man kept his cool. With tenacious defense Matthew shut down Joel's attack just long enough for him to knock down a jumper for breakfast, post-up for lunch, and taking a drive for a lovely picnic dinner. The game was tied at 19 - 19 in a game as monumentally colossal as something so monumentally colossal I can't even find words to describe it's monumentally colossalness. Joel took the ball. He drove for the hoop but Matthew closed the lanes like he was doing road work ahead. So Joel attempted to post up, but Matthew read him like the Reader's Digest and shut down the post. The ball fell to Matthew with a chance to take the game. He faked right, dribbled between his legs and shot left. Joel wasn't fooled. Matthew went for the shot anyway but it fell off target. Joel rebounded. He dribbled behind the three-line and pulled up like he had just a few games ago. Matthew was expecting it this time and got a hand right in front of Joel's eyes, making the shot very difficult. Matthew rebounded, took the ball back, and pulled up a jumper while Joel was off-guard. The shot was off-target. Joel rebounded. He paused at the three-line and then shot for the hoop like an arrow from the bow of Russell Crow playing an unassuming Robin Hood. He had a step on his competitor so Matthew, knowing the game was on the line, fowled him as he put the shot up. Joel called "OH! Foul!" as he stumbled beyond the hoop. But little did Joel know, the free-throws would not be necessary. The The backboard was kissed lightly and then the ball, as if it and the net were lovers, separated from each other for countless years, running through pasturelands of green, leaping into one another's arms, and shouting for joy, fell through the rim and into the caressing strings of the long-lost-lover-net. Joel had just won the game 21 - 19, dead-locking the series at 7 - 7.

Anything could happen folks.