NSCAA 7 ~ RP Thread

[Nuevo Caracas]

El Nacional : Your Caraqueno National Newspaper

New flight to Hicana : The Latest Addition to Aeroterror

Niclas Cuzmar

CARACAS, Nuevo Caracas - Nuevo Caracas is already well known for its civil war, with conflicts over its potent mineral and oil reserves, ethnic and regional divides, as well as its recent economic crisis. Already the thousands of people have managed to escape the country on whatever the method, but the industrial activities in the country are very active, with many international (though often not public) ventures to build and exchange personnels and necessary industrial equipments together. Now, the travelers between Nuevo Caracas and Hicana can also take twice weekly flight between Caracas and Santa Barbosa.

The series of flights, which were inaugurated here in Friday and includes a stop in Cenial, Ceni, is operated in a code-share agreement by the Caraqueno state-controlled airline Conviasa and Air Terranea.

Officials at Conviasa said that the company would use Boeijg 767-200ER on the route and that depending on the traffics the flight would receive either an increase in service frequency or additional capacity through the use of B767-300ER (though expected to retire in 2 years) or B747-400ER.

This is not the oddest, and just the latest of flights that the Caracas-based carrier has introduced: Earlier this month the airline has introduced a new leg of the 9:30 flight to Metropolis, Valladares, which were extended to Ruland, Farfadillis, as well as a new flight to Lulai, Paymina. The flight also sees a twice weekly service, though on this case is flown by the carrier's Boeing 747-400ER due to range issues and demand.

Now touted as "Aeroterror", the series of flights made by the Caraqueno flag carrier has drawn controversies for somewhat making profit in flying flights that seem to connect the nation of 25 million people to most unlikeliest of places to make profit- without involving flying to dangerous spots in the multiverse.

This is not a very surprising thing, however, as the nation has its own history of sponsoring and partnering with nations involved with terrorism and civil wars. Under recent president Gonzalo Inmaduro, Nuevo Caracas government has tightened relations with Hicana and has expressed explicit support for the military and personnel exchanges, as well as the weapon enrichment and development programs. Nuevo Caracas is currently host to over 35,000 Hicanans present in activities related to the military and were often seen to be heavily involved in the civil war. He sees relations with those warlording factions of Hicana, mercenaries of Farfadillis and terrorists in Paymina as a centrepiece of foreign policy aimed at countering the severe resistance given in many parts of the nation during the civil war.

This, in turn, has led many to turn Nuevo Caracas a hotbed of various influxes in terrorism and international mercenaries. Senor Inmaduro “is much loved in our country, and our people want to come here to get to know this land,” Luis Firpo, the Hicanan ambassador to Caracas, said in a latest phone interview with the paper. In recent days he's been invited by many to present the likelihoods of possibly being able to work in various fields over Hicanan fields.

The likewise occurs to their Farf mercenarial counterparts. Farf soldiers are already a staple of Caraqueno government forces here, invited to discuss the poverty-stricken, anarchy-plagued region's chaos, cycle of violence and craftmenshup in weapons that have been considered on extreme superiority over the Caraqueno forces. This put many mercenaries and other groups in array of agreements in Nuevo Caracas, including ones to produce homemade-inspired guns, knives and possibly rocket launchers at a plant that is expected to start commercial output in Petare this weekend.

No interviews were reached in time with the rebelling factions and its headquarters located in Guanare, Portuguesa. More infos will be reached in time.

[Chromatika]

Chromatik School Standings
Alnio University of the Arts Meercats - 3W (Amaethon Conference)
University of Myana Vipers - 3W (Bird Conference)
Chromatik City College University Comets - 2W (Foothill Conference)
Depri Sanar University Spartans - 2W (El Whirlo Conference)
Z'ai'ai University of Technology - 2W 1L (Big 12 Conference)
Pur State Crusaders - 2W 1L (Balor Conference)
Chromatik State University Stars - 1W 1L (Metropolitan Conference)
Depri Lanar University Warriors - 2L (Terranea Friendship Conference)

Winners and Losers
A Column by College Basketball Fanatic Lowell Kimberly, Chromatik City Courier

Well, the first series of games in the NSCAA have gone by, and the Chromatik teams did relatively well overall, scoring a record of fifteen wins against five losses. Here are the Winners and the Losers of the first set of matches!

Winners

1. Alnio University of the Arts - Won the first three games with ease, the smallest margin of victory being nine points, and the other two wins being over twenty points each. Wilhelmina's defense has been clutch, and the team has shown that they may be a liberal college, but still be good at playing ball.

2. University of Myana - Sports a ridiculous +90 points difference after three games. The experience of the roster is definitely showing, and allowing less than sixty points a game is a nice plus as well. Off to a hot start.

3. Chromatik City College University - Took care of business with ease on their first two games, averaging 85 points. Bozena and Petronella are working their magic as usual. Tougher tests await, but nothing so far.

4. Depri Sanar University - Nice start, winning their first two handily. Lonnie and Shantel led the way, averaging over twenty points apiece.

Loser

1. Depri Lanar University - The only team from Chromatika without a win. Lost a close one on their first game, the buzzer-beater being missed. Needs to get back on track, a lack of muscle may be present due to the fact that they are fielding an all women team.

Middling

1. Pur State University - Lost the first game by five, bounced back on the second game, another close one, then blew out their opponent on the third. Ja Thrall is proving to be all that he was hyped to be, averaging thirty points per game.

2. Z'ai'ai University of Technology - Won the first two games by wide margins before losing a close one on the third. Stephany and Verile were completely shut down by San Llera University of Architecture. Still, a very high-octane speed system seems to be catching opponents off guard.

3. Chromatik State University - Lost their second game, blowing a ten-point lead in the last period. Shasta needs to step up her game.

[Electrum]

OOC: Posting now before dinner, will finish ASAP

Centralis Herald - Sports Section - Gilbert Halliday

NSCAA competition in full force with mixed results for Electrumite teams

The seventh yearly edition, after a few teething issues and a hiatus, got started yesterday to great fanfare as Electrumite teams duked it around the multiverse. The performance so far has been mixed, but it is no surprise that the teams themselves have to rebuild after the fact that most of the university's coaches left their places to join the National Team all those years ago. Now, the new managers are passionate but inexperienced, leading Electrumite universities to some losses and some wins today. As Electrumite readers are of course aware, the five established basketball universities in Electrum are: the Deltan University of Agriculture, Centralis University, National Electrum University, Prescott School and Hamilton Institute of Technology. These five universities back in Electrum's debut in the IBC sent representative coaches and players to form a united Electrum team. Somehow, against all odds, the Electrumite team made it all the way to the final, losing to the Sanctii, taking it to the very last match. With that, came new reforms to basketball in Electrum with the establishment of a pro-league, which is now very competitive, making the former University competition less so.

Now, three more universities have joined the fray, once scoffed as not even having a basketball program, seeing the media exposure and money flowing to the five main basketball universities has led them to join the bandwagon. These are the Territorial Institutes in Electrum's far north, University of Somer and the Port Grenville College of Arts. It remains to be seen whether or not these teams will do well, or even better than the establish universities: but let's now see how each team did so far in conference play so far. The main objective is to get as high ranking as possible, so they can be seeded well and face off against the lower-tier universities, thus boosting their chances of clinching the Championships and a main spot in the proper NSCAA final. In tomorrow's review, we will go over the conferences we missed, as well as the lesser 3 Electrumite Universities and checking in on how they're doing.

National Electrum University: Caraqueno Conference

As expected, the National Electrum University had a flying start in the Caraqueno Conference, notching up wins against Hankow Capital University and the strangely named Joyoyo Akanegaoka College. First, NEU defeated Hankow 76-70, known for the strange fact that unlike most teams, NEU has women competing, not only that, two women: Richards on the PF and Edwards on C. The team as a whole played brilliantly against Hankow, focusing on the fundamentals, as NEU does best. However, it was guard Freeman that shone out, scoring 18 points, with 7 rebounds and 4 assists, reinvigorating the game and responsible for scoring those three two-pointers at the end, allowing the NEU to just edge further away from Hankow. In their other match against Joyoyo Akanegaoka, it was a much tighter affair, with results being 68-all at the end of regulation time leading to overtime. Again this time, Freeman stepped up to the plate, but really it was the mistakes of the other side that were costly. Free turnovers were given like candy after Joyoyo Akanegaoka kept committing offensive fouls. It was a bit rough and tumble, but it seems that the Electrumites will be fit enough to continue playing.

Centralis University: Metropolitan Conference

Centralis University find themselves in the bottom half of the Metropolitan Conference after just two days of play. A loss to ladder-leaders University of Owner-osity and a small win against Chromatik State have seen them ranked 8. This is the university that was the home of Warren Jefferson, the legendary coach who saw many successes for Centralis University in his tenure. Perhaps if they wish very hard, he might come back, but right now they have his assistant Kevin Diamond as coach, and he's just not as good in whipping them up to shape. His speeches are dispassionate and clunky, making it hard to rev the team up, especially during those crucial timeouts. In their first match, they lost 73-81 to the Swordean team: just unable to match their physicality and the team looked worn out by the final quarter. It's not all bad news however, as the team improved to an 80-76 victory, after being 10 points down at the start of the final quarter. Centre Tu Raymond was the standout player, matching up very well against his counterpart Shashta from Chromatik State. He just found all the right spaces and capturing offensive rebounds in order to hammer as many points as possible. With some determination, Centralis flipped the 10 point deficit to a 4 point victory, a close match indeed.

Prescott School: Foothill Conference
The Prescott School started off in a similar way to Centralis, but this time winning the first match and losing the second one. On the first day, the Prescottians had a close call as they defeated Downination International University 74-79. At the end of the day, the Dowination team just lacked the experience or the calibre to maintain the aggressive form they had been having beforehand, just running out of breath. The Prescottians, ably lead by Points Guard Jerome Reynolds just knew exactly when to go for points or when to give it up to another player in a better position than he was. That is the pure definition of teamwork. However, that selflessness wasn't enough as with just two minutes to go on the clock being pushed to the ground by their Centre. As a result he has a minor arm injury and took the next game off, but will be back in time for the third day. In their match against Hirot College, there were just too many turnovers as their replacement PG Bill Jensen had awful turnovers which the other side intercepted easily. This shock loss sees them sitting in fifth place in their conference.

Deltan University of Agriculture: Woodland Conference
Results were not received in time before deadline

Hamilton Institute of Technology: Mugisha III Memorial Conference

Rounding out our review for today is the Hamilton Institute of Technology. They are the best loser of sorts, coming in 9th place after losing two of their matches against Al Andalus University of Quranic Studies and stalwarts Everlin University. The first match was a true heartbreaker: the match was tied up at 72-all with ten seconds on the buzzer when Hamilton's King performed a disastrous error, throwing the ball to the other side: it was an easy mistake to make, given their similar uniforms. Seeking the desperation, their points guard shot the ball from just past the half-court line where it sailed into the hoop just as the buzzer went. In the other match against Everlin, they were no match for the team, going down 61-78. Now, they need to buck up if they want to be in the running for a spot in the top half of the ladder. It can only go uphill from here, so Hamilton can meet its very high expectations. After all, this was the school that generated such Electrumite basketball legends such as Walter Hanescu, Susan Fintona and Wally Le.

In our next article, we will turn to the Deltan University of Agriculture, and look at some of the other universities you may not have heard about yet.

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Don't want to double post, but here's your cutoff for the Big12, Royal Flush and Full House conferences!

[Vangaziland]

Overglade University is Vangaziland's top ranked team participating in the NSCAA 7 basketball tournament. The school is located in North Emeros, a suburb of the capital city. The University is known for being competitive in athletics and for a challenging academic program. It is Vangaziland's most elite school, even though it is huge compared to many other schools in its class. The brightest students and the best athletes go to Overglade. Even the Vannish Prince, Fritz Vang, is an Overglade alum.

OU got off to a hot start, going 3-0 on the opening stretch.

Game 1 saw the Black Vikings defeat Oigrad Community College 70-61. It was a group scoring effort where no Vannish player scored over 15 points. Eaglesen added 9 assists and two steals. The game was a constant back and forth with several lead changes. Oigrad did well to stay close and force the Black Vikings to work. Juell Sampson went on an 8 point run in the last 2 minutes to close out the game. Center Matt Laborston helped keep the ball in Overglade hands by tallying 11 rebounds and a block. He did get into foul trouble early though.

Overglade beat Kreceva University College with a score of 91-65 in game 2. This was a bit more of a one-sided affair as Vangaziland started to pull away early in the second half. The bench picked up a good deal of playing time, as coach Derek Shipping rested his starters. Sarah Westborn had a lot of court time. She finished with 13 points, including 3 three-pointers, a field goal and 2 free throws. She also picked up 6 assists and had 2 steals. Trey Swanson had the hot hand from the floor, scoring 25 points in 17 minutes of clock time. There was smooth chemistry between Trey and Sarah. The duo coordinated for an alley-oop and many timely pass and shoot or screen plays.

The cadets at Selene Valley Military University made game 3 the toughest for Overglade. The Black Vikings fell behind early in the game and were forced to play comeback. The Vannish backcourt of Tullet and Eaglesen kept their team in the game as Laborston and Sampsen struggled to score in the post. Solid defense kept the Selene Valley cadets from running away with the lead. OU made a big push in the last 6 minutes of regulation. Jay Tullet hit a shot from the top of the key that tied the game with 13 seconds left and forced overtime.

J.R. Ghostwriter brought an intensity to overtime, which his team sorely needed. He caught a laser pass from Sarah Westborn and went up with a windmill dunk that brought the crowd to its feet. After that, Vangaziland went on a scoring run and finished with a score of 97-86.

"There were a lot of good signs", Coach Shipping said about his team's start. "But it's too early to get excited. We are just going to play Vannish basketball and see where that takes us."

[Frenline Delpha]

Frenline Delpha Ranking Council
Week 1

1)  Sadeg State
2)  SLU of Linguistics
3)  Myana
4)  St Joseph's
5)  Elmanden
6)  IU-Politecnico
7)  Klyde
8)  Cal-Hopkins
9)  Metropolon
10) Alnio Arts
11) Hankow
12) Franco Coreene d'Altamira
13) Auster
14) Chromatik City
15) Vietussia A&M
16) Depri Sanar
17) Cthulu E&P
18) UniAnge
19) Kalayaan
20) Overglade
21) Arten Western
22) Venezuela
23) West of Ethane
24) Stoneshore
25) Cryslis

When we interviewed one of the officials on the ranking board, Senior Executive Chance Gunroy about their top five choices. He was also asked why a team from Frenlien Delpha didn't make the top ten.

On Sadeg State:

They thoroughly impressed us in their first three games. They came out hot in their first game, winning by 38 points over Gainsdell. They didn't atop there, however. On their second game, they scored over 100 points on the road against the favored Enemy Crusher College. Most impressive is the fact that they won in Gregoryisgodistan, one of the toughest places to play in the multi-verse. This win alone guarenteed them a top spot, but it was their third win that compelled them into first place. In an absolute thrashing, the team from Sadeg State crushed Joseph Smith College, holding them to just 43 points. They were astounding in their first three games, and that is why we felt they deserved the top spot

On SLU of Linguistics:

SLU of L was the most obvious choice for second. They didn't quite achieve what Sadeg State did, but they certainly left their mark after the first week of games. We feel confident that they earned this distinction, so we gave it to them. Their most impressive win was by far their third game win against Cuaven College while on the road. Overall, we felt their play was electric, and we felt their record and stats showed for itself. It wasn't a hard decision, and in the end, it was the right one.

On Myana

While not being in the most aggressive confernece, we felt that wins over both of the colleges from the Republic of the Northern Lands, coupled with a thrashing of Verik and Foi on the road, were enough to earn them their spot. In terms of why we thought they beat out other teams, it really came down to the points differential. We, as a commitee, feel that scoring many points but also giving up many points is not a good sign. The same goes with scoring points. While it isn't put biggest deciding factor, we definetly include it when we make our decisions. Overall, it just came down to the fact that they knew how to light up the scoreboard being what allowed us to make our final decision. However, St. Joseph's was close to picking up that third seed.

On Saint Joseph's:

As I mentioned, they weren't far off. They too went 3-0 to start, and they did it in exemplary fashion. What didn't hurt their rank is their win against a Gregoryisgodistan college, namely the IFSONOOELN. They won that game by a margin of 38 points, after IFSONOOELN crushed their firts opponent by 30 points. Also, the team records of all the teams St Joseph's has beat is 2-7. However, Myana's was 3-6. This gave them the short end of another stick, and coupled with eveything else we do, Saint Joseph's just fell short. However, St. Joseph's can make a compelling case to be moved up the ranks if they continue to play at the level they employ right now.

On Elmanden:

This surprised us when we reached the decision at much as it will anyone reading this list sees this college popped into the number five spot. And before anyone starts rumors, no we were not payed to put as many Drawkland colleges on here as possible. We just felt that they had earned it. I don't know what they do to those kids up there, but they have soem pretty beast players. The one that stood out most on Elmandenfor us was their center Abraham. He's seven foot 8. That's ridiculous. He is also very coordinated and assertive, and we liked that. However, he alone was not the reason this small city college is in our top eight. They beat a college from both Vangaziland and Cosumar, both of which are phenomonal basketball countries. That was enough for them to surpass several other teams on their way up here. We, personally, can't wait until Elmanden plays SLU of L. Taht'll be an energetic match to see.

On why Leopord Central failed to make the top 25 and why Arten Western was not ranked in the top 20:

Simply put, we didn't feel that they ahd earned it. Both teams have impressive records thus far, mind, but we didn't feel either of them deserved a spot higher than they got. I will not lie that the Condors came close to being in our top 25, but we just decided they didn't deserve any higher than wha they got.

We eagrly await next week as the committee decides what 25 will make their list next time. Tune in next week to get the latest top 25 poll courtesy of the Frenline Delpha ranking council.

(OOC Note: These ranks are by no way official. Just what I am doing for my RP.)

[Nuevo Caracas]

MD3-5 Cutoff for El Whirlo, Terranean Friendship and Bolivar Conferences!

[Frenline Delpha]

Will your team be immortal for long?

[Ceni]

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April 18, 2016 - David Farwell, sports correspondent

B

asketball is not the sport one would imagine as connected with Ceni - one would think of tennis or perhaps the reviving football scene in Ceni. Yet the sport of basketball is proving popular in Ceni - and Cenians are getting to be quite good at it, contrary to many expectations. Cenian clubs are starting to emerge onto the world stage, Cenian schools are doing well in the NSCAA, and Ceni's national team (made almost all up of college students, ironically, as well as some players from the club scene) is set to head to the next edition of the International Basketball Championships. While many might not have thought of Ceni as a basketball powerhouse, there actually are some roots for Cenian basketball development in Ceni - Cenians' good physical performance, a proliferation of courts and indoor arenas, more grassroots participation at the high school level, and the promotion of several businessmen.

One of those businessmen is Adrian Pellegrino, the owner of the new Cenial Phoenix franchise in the CeniHoops league, the new basketball league for Cenian clubs. While Phoenix participated last year in the Terranean League, this year, with the number of other clubs wanting to come into the league, Pellegrino led efforts to start up CeniHoops league in the first place, and he hopes for Cenial Phoenix to do well in the league, of course. But that wasn't his only reason for starting up a basketball league in Ceni in the first place: he discovered basketball in high school, loved the game, and started to play more seriously in college, but was hampered in his efforts to develop his career by the lack of a Cenian club system. "There are some real good guys in the NSCAA right now - El-Amin, Vermillion, Elgin, Gaucher-Faubert, Lomax to name a few - and I would not like to see those players lose out on the opportunity to play professional basketball because there wasn't a system enough to support them." Pellegrino also notes that basketball in Ceni has a simmering potential for a profitable basketball league. "Ceni has world-class facilities already for teams to use; basketball's fairly popular at the high school level, so we can attract a lot of young people towards the league; and the expansion of Cenileague demonstrates how a league and sport can be developed in Ceni to a better standard within the world."

University of Ceni coach Lauren Vox thinks that youth development is the straw that finally broke the camel's back of resistance to a basketball league in Ceni. "Previously, sporting authorities in Ceni wanted to develop their football league most of all, because of its prestige on the world circuit. But basketball is pretty exciting, at least in my opinion, and is very marketable as well, from a business standpoint." Vox mentions that Ceni has always had a basketball infrastructure in schools and colleges but the NSCAA has prompted this league and change in minds. "I do this this NSCAA conference will have positive effects for Cenian basketball. One, it will encourage more people in Ceni to try basketball; two, it will increase resources devoted to basketball; and most important in my opinion, it will change people's minds about more involvement from Cenian teams in the international stage. We have already started to do it, and now we're going to reduce resistance to this idea. It's a very powerful force." The rising number of youth players with experience in the NSCAA, she believes, will finally prompt league organizers to start up something because of the pressure.

S

o far, the leaders of the Cenian Olympic Committee (COC) have capitulated to the growing public sentiment for basketball in Ceni. They have agreed to send the national team to the International Basketball Championships coming up, but most importantly, they have started the CeniHoops league for basketball clubs. It will feature ten sides - Apogeo, Brio Latino, Cenial Phoenix, Cenial Cosmopolitan, City Centre Revolution, DNS United, Huracan Norteno, New Oxford Mercury, Western Manticores, and Whitehaven Storm. Adrian Pellegrino explains why he thinks that it's an important step for Cenian basketball: "A league provides a place for the players to develop and gain experience. This NSCAA season is starting to do that, and the CeniHoops league is going to provide even more of it with the competition. Plus, it can bring in television revenue, further helping to provide funds for player development and helping to capitalize off the popularity of basketball that is just sitting beneath the surface. We have a great opportunity here."

The NSCAA is a case in point. While most Cenians were a bit ambivalent about the start of the NSCAA in general, that started to wear off as Cenian teams started to win. While the University of Ceni lost twice to tough competition, Ryan Vermillion and François Gaucher-Faubert proved popular with the public, and people started to support their teams. There have been other excellent runs in the NSCAA so far, including some unexpected ones - the University of Ceni-Santiago, for instance, has gone 5-1 so far, with only one loss; Javier Aiza has led the team to several blowouts. Ashur El-Amin and Sara Cenial too have led the University of New Oxford to early success. Even though there have been some hardships starting out for Cenian schools, there have been some great successes, and there are still quite a few more weeks left for the schools with losing records to start reviving their efforts to do well in the NSCAA. Overall, the NSCAA has been a testing ground for the possibility of more Cenian involvement in international basketball - and with the first few weeks, there has been an increase in TV ratings, and interest for basketball in general. So the NSCAA has probably been a good thing for Cenian basketball - and teams' performance in it could be a harbinger of things to come. But most importantly, it will likely be the spark that started the fire of an excellent Cenian basketball tradition.

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Cutoff for my conferences too.

[Chromatika]

Here's your second cutoff.

Results

[San Llera]

Second cutoff for the Foothill and Metropolitan Conferences

[Drawkland]

Following up San Llera with a cutoff for the Sevens and the Drawks.

Some real nailbiters for a few Flying Drawk matchups.

[Banija]

Cutoff #2 for the Mugisha III Memorial Conference and the Great Sky Conference!

Who Remains in the Ranks of the unbeaten?

[Drawkland]

DRAWKLAND MAKES MASSIVE NSCAA DEBUT
Written By: Andrea Tiffon and Steven Sanders

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TOP TEAM

RECENT RESULTS

Newflyer University (NIX) 63–91 Metropolon City College (DRK)
Metropolon City College (DRK) 85–76 Saint Shawn School (JES)
Natureela Qindor-Phillips School (JES) 60–88 Metropolon City College (DRK)
Metropolon City College (DRK) 90–75 University of South Downination (NOD)
Khaleej State College (AAA) 66–72 Metropolon City College (DRK)
Metropolon City College (DRK) 88–71 Askaria University (ALO)

Big 12 Conference                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
 1 Metropolon City College               6    6   0   514  411 +103     6

Sadeg State University (DRK) 96–58 Gainsdell Highschool (SSA)
Enemy Crusher College (GGS) 56–109 Sadeg State University (DRK)
Sadeg State University (DRK) 81–43 Joseph Smith College (TAI)
University of Kreceva (SZA) 73–83 Sadeg State University (DRK)
Sadeg State University (DRK) 90–61 Copperbrook University of Publication (SSA)
South Penn State (USD) 66–86 Sadeg State University (DRK)

Gravity Conference                       Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
 1 Sadeg State University (DRK)            6    6   0   545  357 +188    12

University of Angeles City (TAI) 62–92 University of Emesamie (DRK)
University of Emesamie (DRK) 80–74 University of Cenial (CEN)
K.W.C. University (YOS) 70–63 University of Emesamie (DRK)
University of Emesamie (DRK) 72–68 The Higher Educational University of Western Ethane (ETN)
Slivelle Academy (COS) 72–84 University of Emesamie (DRK)
University of Emesamie (DRK) 67–83 Oppidum College (NGL)

Emerald Conference                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD
 4 University of Emesamie                      6    4   2   458  429  +29

Technical College of Vangaziland (VNG) 76–95 Elmanden District College (DRK)
Elmanden District College (DRK) 91–66 University of the Western Isles (COS)
Seirin College (ANM) 57–89 Elmanden District College (DRK)
Elmanden District College (DRK) 112–75 Alnio University of the Arts (CMT)
Loftus College (ARI) 64–79 Elmanden District College (DRK)
Elmanden District College (DRK) 80–74 Releinthi National & State College (AFT)

#   Amaethon Conference                 Pld   W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts
 2 Elmanden District College             6    6   0   546  412 +134    18

University of Central Szavoda - UCS (SZA) 67–68 Cemmendy Tech (DRK)
Cemmendy Tech (DRK) 83–67 Dyno-Ryo College (RAK)
Institute For Studies Of Nuclear Obliteration Of Enemy List Nations (GGS) 70–77 Cemmendy Tech (DRK)
Cemmendy Tech (DRK) 77–60 Salgeta University (NOD)
St. Joseph's College (VNG) 71–67 Cemmendy Tech (DRK)
Zar City College (MRT) 60–89 Cemmendy Tech (DRK)

Royal Flush Conference                     Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts
 2 Cemmendy Tech                             6    5   1   461  395  +66     5

Notamill College (DRK) 84–62 Carachi Prime School (ALO)
Bastille Technical University (ARI) 62–59 Notamill College (DRK)
Notamill College (DRK) 110–55 Universidad Elias de Bakholdt (NCS)
Presbyterian College at Carnival (NSI) 66–83 Notamill College (DRK)
Notamill College (DRK) 83–70 University of Puerto Princesa (HPE)
College of the Air Force (VNG) 84–69 Notamill College (DRK)

Full House Conference                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts
 4 Notamill College                          6    4   2   488  399  +89     4

Drawk Corps and Corinth not played

And the first week or so of games have been played in the NSCAA! And in a shocking turn of events, the Drawkian representatives to the world are actually not only rising above mediocre, but excelling in most cases! Read on to see a summary on what's happened so far.

TOP COLLEGE(s)
As you may see from the slightly-oversized icon to your right, the Sadeg State Skyhawks are the leading team for Drawkland in the NSCAA right now. Of course, this isn't to diminish the performances of other teams, but we'll explain that in a moment. Right now the Skyhawks are undefeated in the Gravity Conference, not only going 6-0 but having a Point Differential of 188! That's right, the Skyhawks have scored 188 more goals than they've allowed. In 6 short games, they've scored 545 points, which is an average of 90.83 goals per game. This entire fact is insane in itself, not to mention the fact that this is against the multiverse's best basketball teams out there. Sadeg State seems to be Drawkland's best chance at glory in the early stages of the season.

However, this shouldn't detract from the top-notch performances of other colleges. Shockingly, Sadeg isn't the only collegiate giant out of Drawkland that has gone undefeated thus far; they must share that title with not only Metropolon City College, but Elmanden District College as well. All 3 of these teams have gone 6-0 in their conferences, defeating teams from famous nations among the likes of Cosumar, Vangaziland, 98X, and even Gregoryisgodistan. And that's not even counting some of the deeply impressive victories on the non-undefeated teams.

Our only regret here is that Drawk Corps and Corinth City aren't included on this list, due to their conferences starting later due to scheduling differences between conferences. We're very confident that they will definitely do very well in their conferences, judging by how their fellow two Top 4 Drawkian teams have fared (undefeated). Oh well, let's move on to some of the most awesome moments of these last few matchups.

GREATEST VICTORIES

1. Enemy Crusher College @ Sadeg State University (56-109)
Hands down, the greatest victory in these past few days was the one where the feared Gregoryisgodistani Enemy Crushers came to play on Sadeg's home court. The atmosphere was absolutely fiery, electric, and breathtaking at the same time. While the game was not very close (Sadeg was a 3-pointer away from doubling the Enemy Crusher's score), the total flow and skill of the players and the packed home court made it all worth it. It was almost a constant stream of points coming from Corey Penn, Jonny Nicoterra, and Abe Mutton on the starting line. They probably would've had an even larger show of points if Coach Aldus Pope hadn't decided to completely switch out the starting line with the bench line in the 4th quarter. Don't sniff at them though, the female line of Sadeg had a fire for them too, Elie Cooper, the center, scored 17 points nearly singlehandedly, but also handed a few assists out, mainly to Amanda Logan. By the 2nd half, the Sadeg State pep band was playing nearly constantly throughout game time, probably to the scorn of any Gregoryisgodistani in attendance, even though it's legal and preferred in Drawkian courts. Overall a total spectacle and definitely a highlight to remember.
As a bonus treat for you fans, here's a cadence we recorded from the Sadeg State game in the 4th quarter.¹

2. Notamill College @ Universidad Elias de Bakholdt (110-55)
Speaking of blowout games, the rather unfavored Notamill College quelled any doubts about representing Drawkland on the international stage with this match on the road against Universidad Elias de Bakholdt in Nuevo Caracas. Even though the rather thin "Inconspicuous Bystander" pep band was on the road, they still brought a lot of spirit to go along with Notamill's victory. The poor home fans of Elias were absolutely pained to see the slaughter that the Drawkian college brought into their court. It's pretty clear: even though Notamill's probably an illegal front for some sort of black market empire, they still know how to put on a show. Even if they're doping. Which is a bit unlikely, considering they're tied with the U of Emesamie for lowest group ranking of Drawkland schools so far. Expect to see more from this shady school from Yokare Lake.

3. University of Central Szavoda @ Cemmendy Tech (67-68)
Don't think that just because they have a loss that Cemmendy Tech and the Cyberpunks are having a crap showing in the the Royal Flush Conference. Their first game was at home in Fredo Picks Court, against a school from Szavoda. It was a relatively "low-scoring" game, neither team breaking 70 points (we say low-scoring because of these massive point values most Drawkian schools, including Cemmendy in other matches, have been earning). While it's less secure and sometimes even exasperating to be tied and neck-and-neck with a team at a game, that just makes the victory so much sweeter and exciting, especially at home in Drawkland. Cemmendy's half-decent band was dropping cadences and stand tunes like nobody's business to keep the momentum positive and the atmosphere charged. The Cyberpunks were trailing by 2 points with 15 seconds left in the 4th quarter, and they had just swiped the ball out of the air to keep the game close. Matthew Ford, the usually benched center, had the ball, sprinting to their side of the court. Of course, because of the magic swipe seconds earlier, the crowd was already losing their minds. Ford broke through a defender, and does a discreet behind-the-back pass to Lilly Daniels, who, seeing Norton Chevalier wide open behind the line, passes it. The Szavodan defense was already a second behind, trying to see what had happened to the ball in Ford's hands. By then, it was too late, and with a mere 5 seconds left on the clock, Chevalier drains the 3 points shot cleanly, to which the entire arena nearly blew its top from the cheering. The Central Szavodan players tried desperately to get the ball back on their side, but with only 3 seconds left by the time they got the ball, it was fruitless. The Cyberpunks had taken the game, the opener of conference play for them, on top of that. Definitely one of the greatest seen recently.

4. Elmanden District College @ Alnio University of the Arts (112-75)
When the apparent Drawkian 100-point came around to Elmanden, they certainly did as much as they could with it. They've got the record for most points by a Drawkian school so far, but the defensive showing was a little more lax compared to the matches placed above them on this list. They were also on the road in Chromatika that game, and while the blowout was obvious, they clearly lost some steam, especially on the defensive side, in the 4th quarter, which is how Alnio managed to break into the 70-point territory on the Mechanors. Cemmendy fans, while semi-excited about the record, were also rather bitter. To quote a fan interview from a Cemmendy Tech alumni who watched the game on TV:
"It's pretty great that Elmanden is not sucking out there, but damn if I'm not envious. It'll be the ultimate insult if those blasted Mechanors make it into the final bracket and us at Cemmendy don't. It'll be WAR, you hear me?"
We at the DNSN are still ecstatic to see results like this on the international stage.

5. New Flyer University @ Metropolon City College (63-91)
The results from Metropolon in this season opener were certainly impressive, as this was, even by crossing time zones, the opening game of the 7th NSCAA season. As such, there were plenty of neutral fans and scouts in Drawkland's capital city, coming to see if the NSCAA was going to get off to an exciting start. And boy did the Generals deliver. While they ended ahead by 28 points, the first half was a massive tit-for-tat scoring fest, which was totally bringing down the house of The Ring. In addition, the highly skilled Metro City Coll Drumline was showing off their chops to the abnormally large foreign audience portion, which of course pumped up the domestic Drawkian fans in attendance as well. Many Drawk Corps members were also present, due to the close proximity and the fact that their team wouldn't be playing until days later. They also were impressed and excited for the games to come by the show.
"I think it was a totally awesome. While the 98X uni did put up a great game in the first half, it was pretty awesome to see the Generals bring the hammer down in the second half, shooting ahead by several dozen points. I'm excited to see how our rivals would do," said a Corps member after the first game, "And I hope the Drawk Corps does as well in their debut as well. Exalt-Corps!"

PREDICTIONS

The future is uncertain right now for the fan-favorites Drawk Corps and Corinth City, as they have yet to debut in their certainly tough conferences, the Eternal and Silver Conferences. As such, we can't pass judgement, but we know if they do as well as or better than Metropolon and Sadeg when they're in Drawkland, two teams which are currently undefeated, we can assume that they'll be just as good in the international stage.

Speaking of Metropolon City Coll and Sadeg State, we're sure their streak is going to end someday, but judging by the current trends, it's not gonna end any time soon. They have firm chokeholds on their conferences as of now, and this is noticeable even in other nations. The Frenline Delpha Ranking Council has Sadeg State number 1 in their rankings, Elmanden in 5th, and Metropolon in 9th. We certainly agree that these colleges are set to destroy their conferences right now. Knock on wood, just in case. Fine Ellzidanian wood. Elstrund itself, if you're feeling adventurous.²

The "lower 4" colleges, Emesamie, Elmanden, Cemmendy, and Notamill, are all obscured. ELmanden is also certain to go far based on their current undefeated record, and their rivals Cemmedy are also set to go similarly with their single solitary loss. Emesamie and Notamill are more mid-range schools at this points, and will take a lot of luck to make it into the final bracket and the championship. We do hope they'll do well in their conferences though, putting on a show for both domestic and foreign audiences alike.

---

OOC Notes:
1. This link opens up in the tab and plays an mp3. Don't worry, it isn't sketchy. Open it in another tab if you want.
2. haha, references only I understand

[San Llera]

NSCAA Roundup

The NSCAA has gone swimmingly so far for San Lleran schools, and we here at Viva Dicce are here to break it all down. Let's go school-by-school.

San Llera University of Biology
The San Llera University of Biology, thought by many to be the class of San Llera, has produced mixed results. An opening match day game which most expected the Theories to win did not as planned, with the Feldheimer Universität of Jestoria pulling off the upset at home. It was a tough environment to play in for any school, and Carles Texeira got into foul trouble early, forcing him to sit much of the first half. Arnau Erau was exposed defensively by a physical front court, and the Jestorian school managed to keep the game close, via offensive rebounds and a cold night from the SLUB perimeter players. Texeira committed his final two allowed fouls with four minutes to go, and a sudden hot streak from three gave the Universität a win. Things got better for the University of Biology, luckily, when the University of Ceni came to town. The Cenians put up a solid fight, as expected, but failed to pick up the defensive stops necessary to make a comeback after falling in an early hole. Texeira this time did not get into foul trouble, and butchered the University of Ceni defense with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Enric Capuchera made some pretty fade aways to put the game away.

San Llera University of Physiology
The San Llera University of Physiology has not played an NSCAA game yet.

Cthulhu Education and Preparedness College
One of the most successful schools from San Llera so far has been the Cthulhu Education and Preparedness College, playing in the Bolivar Conference. The first game had the CE&P traveling to the Republic of Arkan to face the Arkan City University, and the White Raiders passed their first test with flying colors. Mango Fuset in particular was terrific, scoring 19 points and pulling down 15 rebounds over his diminutive Arkanian opposition in the 74-55 victory. Next, they played traveled to Ethane to play the University of Salisbury. Fuset and Dextrino starred on both ends of the floor, each one taking advantage of their superior athleticism to their Ethanian positional counterparts. The White Raider offense, not exactly world-renowned, flexed its muscles in that game, scoring 99 points of the U of Salisbury's 66. And the offensive success did not stop there, with CE&P scoring 78, 94, and 79 in subsequent victories over East Gulf Coast University, AzooAzoo University, and Illare West, respectively. With those wins, Cthulhu Education and Preparedness is first in the league, the only remaining undefeated team after five games. Through it all, Mango Fuset has been a pleasant surprise offensively, averaging 19.4 points per game.

University of the Wetlands
The University of the Wetlands has not yet played a game.

San Llera University of Agriculture
The San Llera University of Agriculture started its campaign in disappointment, losing 73-72 to Askaria University in Allied Omaha. After putting on a show, Sirhan Molama could not get his last shot to fall - a floater from the baseline hit the back of the rim as time expired. Fortunately, things have started to look up since then for the Farmers, with Molama's supporting cast starting to play a bigger role. The Matchday two win over Agape Christian College was a team effort in which the Farmers had to show grit, playing against a short but incredibly scrappy team hailing from West Pheonicia. Molama, Alba Scuder, and Ramir Heredia all hit key free throws as the game wound down, effectively boosting the University of Agriculture to a 70-66 victory. Matchday three saw yet another close game, and another close win, this time over the Z'ai'ai University of Technology in Chromatika. Tied at 66 late, Felip Prunyonesa rose over Clarence Frigo to hit a long two with 5.4 seconds left. Stephany Vendetti then missed her bid to win, another miss on the night from the Chromatika star. It wasn't until Matchday four that the SLUA played a game that wasn't close, against Newflyer University of 98X. In that game, the Farmers came out firing on all cylinders, with Sirhan Molama and Alba Scuder each scoring 20 points in the 89-71 rout. They followed this up with 85-59 and 93-55 blowout wins, establishing a very strong hold on the league. They are currently tied for second in the Big 12 Conference.

San Llera University of Linguistics
Easily the most dominant San Lleran team, and possibly the most dominant team overall, in the NSCAA has been the San Llera University of Linguistics. They bucked the trend of opening game upsets for San Lleran teams, annihilating Seirin College by 33 in the first game. Aaron Verdeja did it all as expected, scoring 25, assisting on 9 baskets, and contributing defensively. The SLUL followed this victory with another one - even more lopsided than the first at 102-60. Four blowout wins later, by margins of 22, 52, 42, and 51 points, they established themselves as the dominant team in the Amaethon Conference and an early contender for the entire championship. Aaron Verdeja has put up monster numbers, as if he was playing against JV teams, scoring 30.2 points per game to go along with 7.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds. With that said, the competition is about to stiffen, with the 2nd-5th ranked teams in the conference remaining on the schedule. How the SLUL performs in those games will determine whether they are a contender or a pretender.

Equatorolio National University, Llerana
The Equatorolio National University, Llerana have yet to play a game in the NSCAA.

San Llera University of Mathematics
The San Llera University of Mathematics, competing in the Flying Drawk Conference, got off to an excellent start in their first matchday, beating Hemp Dallas Tech of Yosmar by 20 points. Raquello Orellano spearheaded the Aggie offense, scoring 24 points. Next, they faced Universitas House of Aristocracy, and another win was in store. This time, it was by the score of 82-69, with the SLUM pulling away late behind a surprising contribution from Luis Vero. Vero and Jaime Sent Climent went on to be major bench contributors (combining for 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) in the next game against Feministvs Sanctvsterra University, yet another win, this time 77-71. Unfortunately, their undefeated streak did not last forever. The Vietussia Academy at Oigrad visited and delivered immediate blows to the Aggies, going up by as much as 21 points. The San Llera University of Mathematics fought back, and eventually pulled to within one inside of a minute remaining. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough - they needed a score on the last possession of the game and Xavier Jornet was stripped of the ball, allowing Howard Griffith to run the time off the clock. The Vietussians won, 84-83, knocking the SLUM out of first place. The SLUM did bounce back however, defeating Jestorias National University by 39. Sent Climent and Vero continued to be pleasant surprises.

- Marco Brelli

[Valanora]

MD1-4 results for the Eternal, Woodland, and Silver Conferences.

[Vangaziland]

Imperial Military Academy is tucked away in the quaint town of Imperial Hills. It is a few hours from the capital, located among the hills and narrow pine trees of Vangaziland's taiga forest. The Academy trains Vannish Army and Marine officers within the scope of a 4-year program. Vangaziland's generals thought a collaboration between the Army and Marines was more important than the Marine-Navy relationship seen in most countries. The Marine cadets would have plenty of time to get used to ship life once they entered the service.

Some cadets qualify for "Extra Studies", a two-year graduate student program. All IMA officer candidates are required to serve in the Army or Marine Corps after graduating.

For the first two years, cadets are branch-less, neither assigned to the Army or Marines. They have to earn their branch, with the Marine program being just a bit more competitive. Academics are just as important as drilling or physical training. The Academy looks to train officers with critical thinking and problem solving skills, not just robots who blindly follow orders.

The Academy plays a prominent role in Vannish culture because enlisted military service is mandatory, with men and women needing to serve 18 months before the age of 21 (unless waiver-ed). There is both a professional, volunteer military and a large conscripted force. The professional military handles most of the deployment and international activity. The conscript force takes part in public works like construction, nature beautification or many other tasks within the Empire. They also act as a National Guard alongside the Vannish Military Reserve Force, responding to local emergencies. As a side note, there is even a Vannish Foreign Legion. Officer candidates can also study in ROTC programs spread throughout Vangaziland's private and public colleges.

Imperial Military Academy cadets are seen as tomorrow's leaders, just as cadets from the crosstown rival are, the College of the Air Force. Both teams play in the Vannish Collegiate Athletics Military Division during the regular season. Both teams have been fighting for dominance of the VCA-MD. The schools also compete against several enlisted colleges where conscripts simultaneously serving their 18 months were studying in college. These enlisted military academies were popular because students could fulfill their service requirements at such a school.

The College of the Air Force is located in West Imperial Hills. It's technically a different town and even has a different feel than Imperial Hills, although both towns share a border. Both schools had a reputation for aggressively recruiting and regularly drew talented athletes from across the nation. Waivers are used as a recruiting tool, because candidates good enough to go professional can apply for a waiver and have their Academy time count as the 18 months.

At this point in NSCAA 7, Imperial got off to a 5-0 start. The Air Force was at 5-1.

[Electrum]

Centralis Herald - Sports Section - Gilbert Halliday

Our sojourn continues

Last time we left off, we checked in on how four of the universities of Electrum were competing. Now, we shall look at the final four, including the esteemed Deltan University of Agriculture, which has established their names as basketball powerhouses in the intercollegiate Electrumite basketball competition. Then, we'll round out with the three universities who didn't really have an impact this year, and why they are the ones to watch in the future.

Deltan University of Agriculture: Woodland Conference

We start off with the Deltan University of Agriculture who have come running out of the blocks with a 4-0 winning record, defeating Busko State, Cheeguar University, Akademi Militer Vibius I and Noviodunum. This has made them one of the best, if not the best performing Electrumite teams so far in this competiton and sees them in second place so far, just behind Raynor University who are also undefeated. Its early days of course, with 11 other teams in the group, but they've made their mark so far in a team to be feared. After all, this was the university that churned out Power Forward Michael Marshall and Centre Luke Master. Second Year Brian Hill seems to made the largest imprint on the team so far, just shooting basket after basket, and padding out those scorelines so that it makes it very hard for opposing teams to catch up. By building on the lead and adding pressure early, teams crack more easily.

Territorial Institute: Woodland Conference

Onto the three middling universities, and Territorial Institute, who are also in the Woodland Conference aren't doing too shabby for themselves. They are in fourth place with three wins and one loss to their names so far in this competition. They have easily defeated each team so far, with the exception of that loss to Raynor when they were trounced 75-41. This is probably a testament to just how strong Electrumite basketball is, and the Territorial Institute up north in Auras sees players play in some pretty extreme conditions including heat. The team is probably a bit too reliant on centre Anne Adams, and when she was fouled out late in the third quarter in their match against Raynor University, the team never quite recovered from that loss, and bled points heavily. Shooting Guard Rolovathar (Senior) was just unstoppable as well, shooting from all corners and basically humiliating the very inexperienced team. Still, for a team predominantly comprised of First years/freshmen, they are to be commended for their effort.

Port Grenville College of Arts: Balor Conference

The Grenvillians have made a cracking start as well, given their expected position, they have really outperformed expectations. They are second in the Balor Conference, behind Chromatika's Pur State University and with a 4-1 record, they're not complaining. Again, it is quite unbelievable that an Arts College of all places with a team of first years romped their way to second place in the conference. It harks back to Electrum's surprise debut run in the International Basketball Championships all the way to the final, and perhaps history can be repeated again. The Grenvillians have only suffered one loss so far, a four point loss to Pur State. Pur State have a very energetic offensive lineup, matching their pink and blue colours. Nicoll on Centre is devastating, picking up those rebounds and salvaging as many points as possible, not letting the Electrumites take back the ball. The conference is shaping up to be a showdown between Port Grenville and Pur State, and lets hope for the Port Grenvillians that they can find a way to best Thrall, Nicoll, Ledwell and co. the next time they clash.

University of Somer: Ceridywn Conference

Finally, we reach the end of the universities with the University of Somer. They started with a less-than-ideal-start with their two losses coming in from their first three matches, they followed up with three wins in a row to see them come third on the ladder with a 4-2 record, behind the University of Ice Peak (whom the Summerians have already defeated) and Tamarskand Fief University (responsible for the only drubbing they've had so far, losing 59-84 in a far more athletically superior performance from the Cosumarite team). For the Electrumites, centre Cliff Valentine and Jarrod Mark are the clear standouts, with Mark's versatility as swingman, an all-rounder who looks to be assured a spot in a National Team once he graduates. He is known for being the current Electrumite record holder for most points scored in a game by themselves, with 59 points in one match. For such a lower-ranked university to have a star player: it is sure to bring them a big boost, and be able to challenge the more established basketball universities in Electrum.

So: that's how our Universities have been going so far in these early stages of the NSCAA. It is just one step in this rapid fire tournament however: after the double round-robin conference play is done and dusted, they'll be transitioning to a conference Championship and then the NSCAA proper finals can start. Most of the established universities in Electrum are doing well so far, some not so well (we're looking at you, Hamilton Institute of Technology), and the three lower-tier universities are smashing expectations and doing very well in their own conferences. Perhaps its time to not referring to them as lower-tier universities, and perhaps it is time to reconsider a new paradigm in Electrumite basketball. These other universities demand to not be ignored any longer, and we risk ignoring them to our peril.

---

Ceni has reassigned to me the Phoenix Wright conference: as a result, I will get to work scoring all 6 matchdays to catch up today.

[Nuevo Caracas]

Sorry for delays. Here are the MD6-7 cutoff for the three Caraqueno conferences.

[United Vietussia]

The Vietussian Inquisitor

NSCAA opening days show Vietussian strength

After the first rounds of the NSCAA were put into the books, Vietussian teams find themselves mostly on the good side of the spectrum with a few teams on shaky grounds in the early going. Hankow Community College and Vietussia Agricultural and Mechanical (5-1) find themselves with the best records from a Vietussian team, while Hankow Capital University (2-5) find themselves with the worst Vietussian record.

Here are the current Vietussian team power rankings:

1. Hankow Community College (5-1)

The Red Hawks earned the top spot after a 5-1 start and first place start in the Bird Conference. The only loss came by 4 to the University of Northern Lands, and with a 40 point win over St. Petrus University of Science, the future for the Redhawks seems bright.

2. Vietussia Agricultural and Mechanical (5-1)

The Vietussia A&M Aristocats found themselves with the tie for the best Vietussian record and tied for second in the conference. A couple more wins could propel this team quickly into the driver's seat for a top conference tournament seed.

3. Vietussia Academy at Oigrad (4-1)

The Mustangs find themselves the surprise Vietussian team after an all-out guns blazing 4-1 start. The small college barely made the cut to qualify for the final 8 Vietussian teams and now find themselves with one of the best Vietussian records. Time will tell whether this is a large feat.

4. Vietussia Academy (4-2)

The main college of Vietussia find themselves with possibly their next college dynasty team after a deep run to the newcomer bowl in their first NSCF season. Xavier Nogueras has built this team around one of the shortest players in the league in Joe Patterson, who stands at 5'11". We shall see if the team can continue this success later on.

5. Hankow Commerce (3-2)

This Vietussian team has just grazed above five hundred. Not much to be said about them until they find a way to create more than an average season so far.

6. Oigrad Community College (3-2)

This Vietussian team finds themselves in a tie for fifth with a huge point differential as well. If they can close out games, they have potential. But for now, one game above five hundred isn't much to cheer about.

7. Oigrad University (3-2)

This college based in the second largest Vietussian city find themselves in the same situation as the two above teams. Not too good, not too bad.

8. Hankow Capital Univeristy (2-3)

And finally, the worst Vietussian team. Despite a +7 point differential, Hankow Capital find themselves unable to close games in the last 4 minutes, losing many games by no more than 5 for this reason. If Hankow Capital can't close out games, they have little future in the NSCAA.


And there you have it, Vietussia's NSCAA power rankings. Many find themselves in good condition above five hundred, and minor improvements could clinch many teams good seeding in the conference tournaments.

This is Jeb Ports, signing off from this edition of the Vietussian Inquisitor.

[San Llera]

Third cutoff for the Foothill and Metropolitan Conferences

[Drawkland]

Cutoff for the Sevens and Drawks. Whatever Margaret throws at you tonight, remember to stay frosty.

[Banija]

Cutoff for the Mugisha III Memorial and the Great Sky Conferences!

Will our last undefeated stay on track?

[Electrum]

Cutoff for the Big 12, Full House, Royal Flush and Phoenix Wright conferences!

To celebrate the addition of the Phoenix Wright conference, have some Phoenix music pumping through your veins!

[Vangaziland]

At the opposite end of the spectrum of Imperial Military Academy and the College of the Air Force was St. Joseph's College. It was a private liberal arts school where a student could major in a variety of subjects, ranging from business to literature. One religion class per year was mandatory. There was also a seminary and a pre-convent program for those interested in becoming a priest or a nun.

The Vannish Catholic Church runs this college and a few others, as well as many national high schools. They are quite competitive schools and many of their brightest students end up at St. Joseph's College. The big difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the Vannish Catholic Church is that the Vangazi do not have a pope or cardinals. The parishes were organized into dioceses, each one led by a bishop. The Council of Bishops instituted policy and governed the Church.

Although top athletic recruits often went to schools with a bigger name, St. Joseph's never had a problem acquiring talent from the wide private school player database. Funding was a bit of an issue and there were less teams here than at other colleges.

Earlier this year, Saint Joseph's Crusaders took the crown of the VCA Division 2 Basketball Tournament in one of the team's best seasons of all time.

They were led by team captain and shooting guard Chris Wallson, a junior. When Wallson showed up freshman year, he was a bit too thin and his shot was streaky. He put on just enough muscle weight and increased his accuracy and consistency from the floor. He's now playing on a VCA D1 talent level.

"I'm not leaving St. Joesph's", he said during his post D2 Championship press conference. "I'm going to get my degree here and if I make it to the next level in basketball, I will always remember where I came from."

He is currently being scouted by the Vannish National team, although the Vangazi are a bit stacked at the shooting guard position. The Crusaders are on a major roll in NSCAA 7, getting off to an impressive 9-0 start. Wallson is averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and .8 steals. His teammates are also doing well and helping keep victory out of their opponent's reach.

The Crusaders attached women's team player Christie Bedrix for this tournament, a sophomore. She has been picking up playtime late in games to help close things out with her defense. Her quick hands and low center of gravity are helpful in stripping the ball as she is averaging over 3 steals per game.

Cassidy Dapsen is the team's sixth man or most frequently played bench player. He's a senior from Emeros who specializes in shooting off the dribble and the corner 3-point shot.

The frontcourt had really stepped things up during their D2 championship and in NSCAA 7, but was far from elite. They focused more on rebounding, defense and off ball the movement, including screen plays designed to help the guards take shots. They lacked a major scoring punch in the post. Sophomore Vincent Detersen was their best scoring forward, but due to less rebounding and defensive ability, he usually played second fiddle to the starting forwards. Other players like Dapsen and Bedrix were placed higher in the bench rotation.

[Nuevo Caracas]

MD8-9 Cutoff for El Whirlo, Terranean Friendship and Bolivar Conferences!