Vinyl Stuns Laces, 82-69, in Playoff Upset

By: J.J. Pavlick | Miami, FL | February 28, 2026 |

Underdogs Rewrite the Script

Underdogs, doubters, and bracket busters, take note: the Vinyl are writing a new chapter in the Bad Dawg Sports playbook. On a brisk Saturday night inside the electric Sephora Arena, sixth-seeded Vinyl shocked the third-seeded Laces 82-69, silencing nearly 78% of the fanbase that predicted a Laces victory and punching their ticket to the Unrivaled playoff semifinals.

+——————————————-+
| FAN PREDICTIONS |
| Who Fans Picked to Win |
+———————-+——————–+
| Vinyl | 22.2% |
| Laces | 77.8% |
+——————————————-+

Howard’s Superstar Night Sets the Tone

Rhyne Howard delivered a superstar performance, pouring in 30 points on a dazzling 12-for-20 shooting night, including six triples, and collecting eight rebounds.

Howard’s Calm Before the Storm

Before tipoff, Howard could be seen courtside, headphones on and eyes closed, quietly mouthing the words to her favorite pre-game playlist—a ritual that kept her nerves steady as the crowd roared.

Hamby’s Relentless Finish Seals the Upset

But it was the relentless Dearica Hamby who sealed the night with 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting, including the game-winner, a slicing two-point layup that capped a relentless run in the closing minutes. Hamby, known among teammates for texting coaches clips of her late-night shooting drills, channeled that after-hours intensity under the brightest lights.

Hamby Delivers the Knockout Blow

Together, the dynamic duo propelled Vinyl to a second-half surge that the Laces simply couldn’t match.

“We’ve been counted out all season,” Howard said postgame, sweat still glistening as confetti rained down. “Tonight, we played for each other—and for everyone who said we couldn’t.”

Vinyl’s Efficiency Was Nearly Perfect

Vinyl’s precision was surgical. The team shot a scorching 63% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc, moving the ball with purpose, with four players notching at least three assists.

Ball Movement, Discipline, and Belief

Rae Burrell added 11 points and four assists, while Erica Wheeler came off the bench to spark with seven points and five dimes. Vinyl’s 17 assists to just six turnovers told the story of discipline—and belief.

Laces Start Strong but Fade Late

The Laces, led by Brittney Sykes’ 22 points and Alyssa Thomas’ double-double (18 points, 9 boards), started strong, leading 46-42 at halftime. But as the game wore on, Vinyl’s pace and poise wore the Laces down.

A Promising Start Turns Into a Fourth-Quarter Freeze

Sykes and Thomas combined for 40 points but found little help in the fourth quarter, where the Laces managed only six points, mirroring the late-game woes that have haunted them all winter.

“Vinyl played like a team on a mission,” Coach Rivera said postgame. “They made the extra pass, got the big stops, and hit the shots that mattered. Credit to them.”

The Third-Quarter Surge That Changed Everything

The turning point came in the third quarter—an electric instant that changed everything. Then the arena gasped.

Momentum Swings, and the Arena Gasps

Howard caught fire, hitting back-to-back threes and slashing to the rim while Hamby cleaned up the glass. The Laces, frustrated by Vinyl’s zone defense and relentless rebounding, saw their offense sputter. With momentum surging, Vinyl outscored the Laces 29-17 in the third, setting up a decisive final frame.

When Hamby soared for her layup with just under three minutes left—off a slick feed from Wheeler—it was more than a bucket. It was a statement. The bench erupted, fans in blue and white roared, and the Laces never recovered.

What the Upset Means for the Semifinals

With the win, Vinyl advances to face the second-seeded Mist in the semifinals, a matchup that suddenly looks a lot more interesting.

Can Vinyl Keep the Cinderella Run Alive?

If Saturday night proved anything, it’s that in March, the only thing predictable is the unpredictable. But can the Vinyl tame the Mist’s league-best defense and keep their Cinderella run alive?

Call it an upset. Call it a statement. But whatever you do, don’t count the Vinyl out.

Bad Dawg Sports: Real reporting – Real access – No nonsense

That wasn’t a fluke — that was Vinyl basketball at full volume. Sixth seed, 22% of the picks, and they still walked into Sephora Arena and took the game away with shot-making, poise, and a second-half punch the Laces couldn’t absorb. Rhyne Howard lit the fuse, Dearica Hamby slammed the door, and the numbers screamed what the eye already knew: 63% shooting, 17 assists, six turnovers — that’s a team playing free, fast, and fearless. Want every boom and echo? Don’t miss our upcoming coverage — where we break down every ripple, every shockwave, and what it means for the season ahead.

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