Joss Finals Burning the Midnight Oil

Joss Finals Burning the Midnight Oil By Tori Hilty, InsidePOOL staffThe highly anticipated Joss NE 9-Ball Tour Finals began June 3, 2004, and are expected to wrap up late in the evening on Sunday, June 6. A turn-out of 71 players from over 19 states, some from as far as Alaska and Hawaii, vied for a total purse of over $36,000. The big purse drew a few players from the Philippines as well. Among this mix of players were Karen Corr, recent BCA Open 9-Ball Champion "Rocket" Rodney Morris, Earl Strickland, and Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich. Making a strong show for local players was Maine native Jim Hayden, who end up in ninth palce..The action unfolded at Spot Shot Billiard Club established in 1988 and located in Portland, ME. It offers top-notch equipment: Brunswick Goldcrown IIIs with Simonis Cloth, Centennial balls, and Diamond lights. In addition, there is a full bar, complete menu, and a nightclub to ensure there is never a dull moment.
The field of players was whittled down yesterday to the final 15. Finishing in the money, but saying goodbye was WPBA ranked number-two female player Karen Corr. In her match against Earl Strickland, the former world champion started the match by shooting out to a 6-1 lead, but Corr fought back and was looking to tie the match 6-6 when she missed a tough shot. Strickland stepped in and closed the match 9-5, relegating Corr to seventeenth place.Shortly thereafter, Strickland was sent to the one-loss side by Danny Basavich after a high-tension rematch of these two rivals from last year's U.S. Open. "Kid Delicious" found sweet victory with a 9-6 win and sent Strickland to battle his way through the west side of the chart. Basavich went on to clash with Morris for the hot seat, and they kept things relatively close, but when the score was at 8-7, Morris missed a fairly easy shot. Basavich broke and ran out to win the match 9-8, sending Morris to the one-loss side. In the quarterfinals, Strickland faced off against D'Alfonso. The young player has a great break, which may be what helped him keep things close with the 9-ball legend, but Strickland drew on his experience and relegated the young Massachusetts native to fourth place with a 9-7 decision. Known for his speed, "Rocket" Rodney Morris played in the semis against Strickland. Both players are in the top five in the country, but Strickland didn't seem to take notice. He steamrolled Morris with a sound 9-3 drubbing, setting himself up for yet another rematch with Basavich in the finals.In order for Strickland to take top honors, he will have to defeat Basavich twice in the true double-elimination format. The finals are still unfolding, with the remaining two entering into the second set of the finals around 10 p.m. This controversial rematch is expected to last well into the night, with no one expecting it to end until close to midnight. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

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