The Middlesex Magic celebrate CJ Farrell's game-winner in the Hoop Group semifinals. (Hoop Group/Middlesex Magic)
Lambros Papalambros always has faith in his teams. But on a rainy Saturday morning in May, it was cemented with his Middlesex Magic Hoop Group squad.
The Magic were playing in a small tournament at the Sudbury Fieldhouse, and they only had five players available. But CJ Farrell, Ty Grudzien, Jack Millward, Connor Noel and Otis Crosby showed up – and they brought their best.
Papalambros doesn’t remember the opponent, but in one game, they went up by a 32-4 score. They ultimately won by 50. All five players were flying around, playing relentless defense. It didn’t matter that the tournament was low stakes.
That day, Papalambros saw something special brewing.
