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Sweet Sixteen Recap
Well…the Sweet Sixteen round didn’t provide the the type of high drama that was expected between such standout versions. In fact, only two matchups were even close. The one-four contest between Alpine ’98 and Magnaball provided the only real intrigue of the round, as the modern favorite jumped atop the score from the get go, looking as if it was going to blow out the top-seeded classic from Alpine Valley. Magnaball got complacent with its lead, however, letting up on defense and allowing Alpine back in the game. Magna played with a single digit lead for much of the second half, but Alpine was never able to draw even, falling to the 2015 standout by the final tally of 50-37. Alpine ’98 is the first number one seed to topple in the tournament, as Magnaball’s Tweezer advances on the strength of two separate, standout jam segments sandwiched around Prince Caspian.
The other close game came in second-seeded Lake Tahoe’s 13-vote victory over the third-seeded version from the Great Went. Though Tahoe had the higher seed due to its iconic status in modern Phish, the Great Went boasted supremely locked-in, one-minded playing, and grooves that are among the band’s best ever. This one could have gone either way and the result wouldn’t have been surprising. Tahoe, however, took an early lead, and despite a legitimate effort from the Went to make it competitive, coasted to an easy 51-38 victory.
All the other Sweet Sixteen matchups turned out to be blowouts. The most notable upset came in Hampton’s two-three game as Denver ’97’s groove clinic toppled the longest version of all-time in Mud Island by the score of 57-25. Many saw the hallmark Summer ’95 version as a final four contender, but its run ended in the round of sixteen as McNichols will now battle Raleigh ’99 in a marquee regional final.
Jones Beach’s magic finally ran out as the Summer ’95 beast fell to 1994’s first long-form Tweezer from the Bomb Factory. Jones Beach had gone on a late-season tear, winning its conference tournament and vaulting to a two-seed in Tweezer Madness, but the Bomb Factory ended its quest for glory in dominating fashion by the score of 58-24.
Second-seeded Lakewood ’00 easily ousted Christiana’s Grey Hall rendition from Europe ’98 by the score of 48-32. Christiana made a nice run in the tourney, making it to the second weekend as a six seed and garnering the respect it deserves, but Lakewood proved too much for the international version to handle.
The three other top-seeded versions rolled once again. The Palace crushed Camden ’99, 62-24, Raleigh ’99 smoked Hampton ’13 by the count of 60-24, and Nassau easily disposed of Tokyo 64-19. These number one seeds all look like favorites for the final four, and will look to continue their dominance in the round of eight.
Above is the Elite Eight vote. These games will run for 72 hours. May the strong survive!
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Elite Eight Breakdown
By Year
1994: 1
1997: 2
1999: 1
2000: 1
2003: 1
2013: 1
2015: 1
By Season
Spring: 1
Summer: 3
Fall: 2
Winter: 2
