Players at the Aug. 28 contest include (L-R) PCBC’s Blair Dreyfus, Dan Harris, Lynn Warren, and Johnny Henson; and CantaMia’s Dean Miller, Craig Jones, Shane Korman, and James Fogerty (photo taken by CM’s Judy Spiller).
Dan Harris, Travel Team Coordinator
On Aug. 28, four players from the PebbleCreek Billiards Club (PCBC) drove down to southern Goodyear to face four talented opponents from the CantaMia (CM) Billiards Club. PCBC was hungry to avenge two earlier losses to their friendly rivals. CantaMia, meanwhile, was eager to protect its bragging rights and show off a pair of shiny new 8-foot Rasson tables featuring tournament-tight 4½-inch pockets.
Those tighter pockets were supposed to be the great equalizer—or at least a polite way of saying “good luck, visitors.” CM even had several extra spectators in attendance, all hoping to watch PCBC get humiliated by the tighter pockets. Instead, those pockets might as well have been regulation bowling alleys as far as PCBC was concerned. The visitors’ hot shooting and steady aim made the narrowed targets look almost generous. PCBC prevailed in style, taking two of the three matches and the overall game count, 22-18.
In the first match, played round-robin style (every PCBC player faced every CM player once for 16 games total), PebbleCreek jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead. CM battled back, but PCBC closed it out 9-7.
The second match followed the same format. The teams traded racks early before PebbleCreek surged, winning six of the last eight games to win 10-6.
Johnny Henson of PCBC led all players across the first two matches, winning six of his eight games. Shane Korman paced CantaMia with five wins in eight tries.
The tight pockets did make one thing clear: they slow the game down. The first 32 games, which normally take about two hours and fifteen minutes, stretched to a full three hours. That left time for only two games per pairing in the third and final match. The format shifted to ranked heads-up play, with players paired according to their earlier results. The score stayed tight, but CantaMia finally claimed a match, 5-3. CM’s James Fogerty led the way for the home side by winning both of his games; every other pairing split its two contests.
Beyond the scoreboard, both clubs showed the best of the game—sharp skill, respectful sportsmanship, and genuine camaraderie. Laughter between racks and handshakes or fist bumps after every game underscored the friendly yet fiercely competitive spirit shared by both sides.