Game 24 - Feb. 28, 2009

DECATUR — A fast-paced game ended with Scott winning in nine hands, the fewest hands since Game 12 on January 10, and only the fourth game to end in nine or fewer hands this season. It was the first such short match without a skunk this season.

Games 23 and 24 marked the first back-to-back victories of the season for Scott, who extended his league to 12 points at the top of the table, with Greg and Nick splitting the second-place points in a draw on 110 pegs.

Dealer: Nick
03 hands - Greg 037 Scott 046 Nick 033
06 hands - Greg 071 Scott 094 Nick 090
09 hands - Greg 110 Scott 121 Nick 110 Final

League Table
Scott... 07 13 02 02 57 2623
Greg.... 09 06 04 05 45 2587
Nick.... 08 06 07 03 44 2573

Game 23 - Feb. 28, 2009

DECATUR — Scott rolled with ease to his sixth victory of the season, extending his league lead to eight points. Meanwhile, Greg staged a late rally to finish second in the match, and thereby climbing to second in the league on 44 points.

Dealer: Scott
03 hands - Greg 025 Scott 053 Nick 038
06 hands - Greg 050 Scott 077 Nick 060
09 hands - Greg 082 Scott 108 Nick 087
10 hands - Greg 101 Scott 121 Nick 094 Final

League Table
Scott... 06 13 02 02 52 2502
Greg.... 09 05 04 05 44 2477
Nick.... 08 05 07 03 43 2463

Game 22 - Feb. 28, 2009

DECATUR — For the first time in quite a while, the league table remained unchanged. Scott stayed on top with his 13th second-place finish of the season, while Greg's win put him just one point adrift of second place, and lifted him to second in pegging.

Dealer: Greg
03 hands - Greg 040 Scott 030 Nick 030
06 hands - Greg 071 Scott 063 Nick 064
09 hands - Greg 099 Scott 088 Nick 088
11 hands - Greg 121 Scott 109 Nick 104 Final

League Table
Scott... 05 13 02 02 47 2381
Nick.... 08 05 06 03 43 2369
Greg.... 09 04 04 05 42 2376

Game 21 - Feb. 14, 2009

DECATUR — The league lead changed for the seventh game in a row, as Scott retook pole position on a second-place finish as previous leader Nick finished third, his first loss in four games. Scott also took the pegging lead for the first time this season, with 2,272 pegs to Nick's 2,265.

Dealer: Greg
03 hands - Greg 025 Scott 026 Nick 032
06 hands - Greg 053 Scott 054 Nick 051
09 hands - Greg 088 Scott 085 Nick 080
12 hands - Greg 121 Scott 111 Nick 101 Final

League Table
Scott... 05 12 02 02 45 2272
Nick.... 08 05 05 03 43 2265
Greg.... 08 04 04 05 37 2255

Game 20 - Feb. 14, 2009

DECATUR — For the sixth game in a row, the league lead changed hands, as Nick managed a two-peg victory over Scott, the narrowest win for any player this season. Meanwhile, Greg suffered an ignominious fifth skunk on the season, and thereby surrendered the pegging lead he had held for the previous nine games, falling 30 pegs behind Nick.

Dealer: Nick
03 hands - Greg 041 Scott 034 Nick 037
06 hands - Greg 063 Scott 058 Nick 073
09 hands - Greg 084 Scott 098 Nick 107
10 hands - Greg 086 Scott 108 Nick 120
11 hands - Greg 089 Scott 119 Nick 121 Final

League Table
Nick.... 08 05 04 03 43 2164
Scott... 05 11 02 02 43 2161
Greg.... 07 04 04 05 32 2134

Game 19 - Feb. 14, 2009

DECATUR — The league lead changed for the fifth game in a row as Scott roared back from a steep mid-match deficit to win his fifth of the season. Scott moved to the top of the table despite trailing Greg and Nick narrowly in total pegs. In fact, the "pegging order" after 19 games was upside-down compared to the league standings.

Dealer: Scott
03 hands - Greg 036 Scott 026 Nick 039
06 hands - Greg 071 Scott 054 Nick 069
09 hands - Greg 096 Scott 106 Nick 103
10 hands - Greg 102 Scott 121 Nick 114 Final

League Table
Scott... 05 10 02 02 41 2042
Nick.... 07 05 04 03 38 2043
Greg.... 07 04 04 04 34 2045