Season 3 of the Papawis League tipped off tonight at Barnwell Upper School, and the defending champions made sure everyone remembered who holds the trophy. Team Python 70 – Trojans 47.

A Familiar Rivalry, A New Chapter

The fixture list couldn’t have been scripted any better. Game 1 of Season 3 saw the Pythons face the Trojans — the same team they beat 84-64 in last season’s championship final. But this time there was an added edge: CK, a former Python who left during the off-season, was now wearing Trojans colours. The storylines wrote themselves.

Slow Start, Rust Showing

The off-season break was evident from the opening minutes. The Pythons looked sluggish, struggling to find their rhythm. Easy shots weren’t falling. Passes were a step slow. The Trojans, sensing an opportunity, kept things tight in the early going.

Troy, one of the team’s star players, had an uncharacteristically rough start — missing shots he’d normally make in his sleep. The rust was real, and for a few minutes it looked like the champions might be in for a tougher night than expected.

Then Ryan N Caught Fire

Every great team has a moment in a game where someone steps up and changes everything. Tonight, that someone was Ryan Navasquez.

In the latter half of the first quarter, Ryan started dropping threes. Not just one — he was raining them. Each shot that splashed through the net shifted the energy on the court. Suddenly the Pythons had breathing room. Suddenly the Trojans were scrambling to adjust.

That spark was all the team needed. Once Ryan lit the fuse, the rest of the squad caught the rhythm. The ball started moving with purpose. The defence tightened up. The Pythons that everyone feared last season were back on the court.

New Players Step Up

One of the biggest question marks heading into Season 3 was how the new additions to the roster would perform. Tonight, they answered emphatically. The new players didn’t just contribute — they made an impact. They played with confidence, integrated into the system, and showed that the Pythons’ depth this season might be even better than last year.

The Trojans Fight Back... Briefly

Credit to the Trojans — they didn’t go quietly. In the fourth quarter, they mounted a run that brought the score to 47-56 with two minutes left on the clock. The Pythons were in foul trouble, and the Trojans were feeding off the energy.

Coach JP called a timeout.

Whatever was said in that huddle worked. The Pythons came back out with laser focus. From the timeout onwards, it was a 14-0 run to close the game. The Trojans had no answer. The final buzzer sounded at 70-47 — a 23-point gap that told the whole story of the second half dominance.

The Verdict

It wasn’t a perfect performance. The slow start showed that the off-season took its toll, and there’s work to be done before this team hits peak form. But the signs are all there:

  • The depth is real — new players contributing immediately
  • The firepower is there — Ryan N showing he can be a game-changer from deep
  • The composure under pressure — responding to the Trojans’ run with a devastating closing run
  • Coach JP’s timeouts — still the best in the league at resetting the team when it matters

Season 3 is only one game old, but the message has been sent: the champions are back, and they’re not handing the crown over to anyone.

Next up: Mustangs on May 15th at 8:50 PM. A new opponent, a new challenge. See you at Barnwell.

Final Score: Pythons 70 – Trojans 47