The Ashcroft Xerocoles have unleashed new jerseys for the first time since their inauguration. It's a complete redesign as they have abandoned the purple and black look and instead gone with Periwinkle, Burlywood and Jade (PB&J). "They look pretty sharp.", said Point Guard Mitch Gardner, "Let's hope that we first put them on in the Naismith."
Gardner was referring to the Xerocoles chances of winning Division II.3, which they have a decent shot at as their team is in second in the league and sitting on a 15-4 record with three games remaining.

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Gvozden Repotocnik has been transferred to Десятка стрит of Belarus II.1. Repotocnik had been a member of the Xerocoles longer than any other player in franchise history. "I spent more than 6 seasons in Ashcroft, and I have to say I'm lucky to have been a part of such a great organization for so long." Десятка стрит will probably use him as a back-up shooting guard, as they make their bid for the Vyshejshaja Liga. Repotocnik helped the Xerocoles go from Div. IV to Div. II, and played a total of 179 games (219 counting scrimmages). "Gvozden is a very hard-worker, and a great freind.", said water boy, Giuseppe Zedda, "I will definitely miss him." Gvozden's 179 games is a franchise record. He has also several other franchise records:
Total Points: 2,027
Total Free Throws Made: 259
Total Assists: 652
Total Steals: 149
Most Steals in a Game: 7
He also got a few unflattering ones:
Total Turnovers: 209
Personal Fouls: 359
Regardless, as to whether ho turned the ball over 209 times or not, fans, coaches, owners, team doctors, PR managers, trainers, cheerleaders, mascots, water boys, those guys who mop the sweat off the court, teammates (I can't believe I forgot teammates), will miss watching Repotocnik play. His #4 jersey will be retired in his honor.

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The Ashcroft Xerocoles sit atop League III.5 with an undefeated 15-0 season. "We've played so well together, it's no surprise we're at the top of the league." said guard, Gvozden Repotoćnik,  who is playing his 5th season with the Xerocoles. Ashcroft has indeed played well together despite some roster changes over the season, bringing in center, Zacarías Villardefrancos (pictured on left), and point guard, Viljams Sveke (pictured on right, standing on toes). In exchange, Ashcroft transferred away center Efthimios Galaxidis, and will transfer point guard Zdzisław Zachwieja. The Xerocoles hope that these moves will help them widen the gap between them and their competition.
"As long as we can keep our heads straight, no one can touch us." said water boy, Giuseppe Zedda, "These guys staying hydrated is a key to our success."
I can't believe we couldn't find a better person to interview.

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During the Season 22-23 off-season, Ashcroft decided it was time to stir up their trainees. Hu Yuanyang was transferred over to Göd Gavallers of League IV in Hungary."I must thank everyone in Ashcroft for drafting me," said Yuanyang to a reporter, "and helping me start what will hopefully be a long basketball career." Yuanyang will most likely be a starter for Göd Gavallers in Season 23. Gavallers had to give up $199,999 for the point guard.
To fill the hole caused by Yuanyang leaving, the Xerocoles picked up Arvo Pihlakas for only $1,000, from Koopakarud of the Estonian Div. II.2. Ashcroft is expecting as much out of Pihlakas as they got out of Yuanyang, they're about as tall, have the same amount of upside, and Pihlakas is pretty much where Yuanyang was after getting drafted.
Lacking a good point guard, Ashcroft also might get a second player of this position, for $1,000 dollars, Michalis Paragkas is 6'3" and may be on the Xerocoles roster by 3:04 today. If that is the case, the Xerocoles will have to transfer Gil Letourneau, another trainee point guard.

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After losing for the first time this season on Saturday, Squares beat Ashcroft in game 3, 107-80.
Barry Khanum had 31 points and 10 rebounds, for his 5th and final double-double of Season 22. Severín Jusko had 24 points for the Xerocoles. Although Efthimios Galaxidis played for 36 minutes of the game, he didn't get a single point. He still made a mark on the game, getting more rebounds than anyone else playing (11).
Galaxidis not being able to score was a factor though, as Ashcroft outscored Squares from beyond the three point line, 24-3 and still lost by 27.
The Xerocoles accept the loss, as it was to a more experienced, and talented team. Said team trainer Niu Shiofu, "We'll work hard this off-season and hopefully end Season 23 with a championship ring."
With Squares out of the picture in Div. II.4, The Ashcroft Xerocoles are the favorites to win the Div. III.5 title.

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The Ashcroft Xerocoles beat Squares in Game 2 of the Div. III.5 finals after dropping game 1, to force a tie-break game tomorrow.
The Xerocoles were in control from the start, and in the 4th quarter, Squares only scored 4 points, and got shut out in the final 7 minutes and 53 seconds. The game ended 95-53.
Said Xerocoles center Mohammad Ibn-Bilal after the game, "We came to play today. That's really all there is to it". Ibn-Bilal certainly did come to play, as he brought down 13 boards. This was an excellent reply to the 14 minute foul out he had in Game 1, in which he also turned the ball over 4 times.
Ashcroft will go back to the Matrix for the final game of Season 22, which will not only decide whether they find themselves in Div. II next season, but could potentially bring Ashcroft its first title.

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It was too little too late when Ashcroft started to play their game in the fourth quarter. The score was 83-48 36 minutes into the game, and it ended 99-76. One of the keys to Squares victory was that they went to the free throw line 3 times as much as the Xerocoles. One of the reason for that was Ashcroft's solid but foul-prone center, Mohammad Ibn-Bilal, fouling out in just 14 minutes.
Every player for Squares came to play, so it's hard to pick just one performance that stuck out. The same goes for the Xerocoles, but if I had to pick one from each, it would be Sami Aakula for Squares  who had 8 assists, and 15 points, and for Ashcroft, Ibn-Bilal's replacement, Bleart Fakaj who led his team in rebounds and assists with 11 and 5, respectively.
The Xerocoles will come home for a must-win game 2. "We are going to give it our all" said team captain, Diego Montoya  "This one got away from us early, but we will have our home fans for the next one, and I can promise it will be a different game."
Ashcroft hopes it will be a different game. Game 2 will be on March 2nd, 8:00 PM ET in Xerocole Arena. If Ashcroft pulls out of that with a victory, the tie-break game will be the next day at Matrix.

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"It was a team effort. I got a double-double, but I could not have done it without help from my coach, and my teammates." The Greek power forward Efthimios Galaxidis (Pictured; with playoff beard), spoke with a thick accent as he said this to reporters after the Xerocoles took care of Browncoats earlier this evening, to earn them a spot in the Season 22 Div. III.5 Finals.
Galaxidis continued to give Browncoats too much to handle, as he got a double-double in all three of their meetings this season. He walked off the court tonight with 16 rebounds and 20 points.
 Another thing that happened in all three of the games, is that the Xerocoles trailed for most of the first quarter or second quarter before running away with the game in the second half. Because of this, when Ashcroft fell behind by 20 in the first, the margin didn't seem unsurpassable. The Xerocoles dominated the rest of the game (75-30 in the second and third quarters) and it finished 117-88.
The next obstacle for Ashcroft now is the undefeated Squares.  It looks like quite a mountain to climb, but remember; this team made a 20 point comeback in the semis, and a 19-3 team beat an undefeated team in the finals in last season's final game. 
Will Ashcroft pull off a movie-style finish? Only time will tell...

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In the final game of the 22nd season of BuzzerBeater Severín Jusko, playing in his 47th game as a Xerocole, scored 17 points to cross over the millennium mark. The game was against Toronto gunners, and Ashcroft won handily, 99-47. Jusko was at 990 points going into the game. With 2:18 left in the second quarter, shot one from the top of the key with Stuart Baikie contesting the shot, but despite Baikie's greatest efforts, it found the net. Jusko was 7-9 from the field with a 3-pointer. He also got 2 points from free throws.
"It's an honor to be a part of history for this basketball franchise" Jusko told a reporter after the game.
Jusko is the second Ashcroft player to reach 1,000 points. The other is the player who backs up Jusko (although he started with the Xerocoles as a starter), Israeli Small Forward, Binyamin Ben-Yehuda.

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The Ashcroft Xerocoles played against Browncoats yesterday, in a game that would either clinch first place, or put the two teams in a tie for first, with one regular season game remaining. It was clearly an important game for each team. 
Although they were winning for most of the first three quarters, Browncoats's high paced full court press left them out of energy in the 4th. Ashcroft managed to outscore their opponents 41-24 in the final quarter, and beat their opponents 120-107.
Efthimios Galaxidis was the high man, as he got his second consecutive double-double, and 10th of the season (13th including cup games). He shot a very impressive 11-14 (0.786), had 14 rebounds, and 22 points. Two other Xerocole players had over twenty points: Gvozden Repotoćnik had 23, and Severín Jusko had 22.
This game is a likely preview of the Great 8 final, as the only other team in contention, the Best Raptors, folded and have been replaced by the unprepared Tough Beaver. Ashcroft is confident they will make the Canada Div. III.5 championship, as all-star Shooting Guard Diego Montoya is healthy again, and back in the lineup. Beating Squares in the finals is another thing...

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