HITS Spring ‘08 regular season MVP Lee Church flanked by league directors Randy and Joe Cruz.

The Hoops in the Sun Spring League gave new meaning to the phrase “Friday Night Lights” this weekend with the playoffs carrying past midnight Friday at the Baychester Community Center in the Bronx.

With a full slate of post-season action on the menu, streetball’s finest came through to take part in the annual tournament that serves as a good tune-up for the summer hoops at Orchard Beach. The HITS regular season opens on June 14 at the Bronx Riviera.

On Sunday, the championships will be decided following a great round of playoffs Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The main event Friday night featured R2K against Total Package.

R2K led by as many as 13 points heading into the fourth quarter thanks largely to the play of hometown favorite Rah Jenkins. Jenkins was sensational, connecting on eight 3-pointers en route to a 29-point performance.

Total Package would not go quietly, staging a late comeback in the final period. Will “Silence of the Lambs” Cadiz, Lee “Born Again” Church and the “Transformers” came up big in the final minutes to force overtime.

Cadiz, a playground legend and a HITS Hall of Famer, scored 10 of his 24 in the fourth, while “Optimus Prime” netted 14 of his 24 in the final period and overtime combined.

With the game tied at 94, R2K had its chances to take the lead in the final seconds, but didn’t capitalize. Total Package made a key stop to send the game into overtime. R2K would rebound though, scoring the first six points of the extra session. In the final seconds, down 100-98, Total Package had one final possession and put the ball into the hands of Church, the Spring League MVP, for a 3-pointer. Church, who was badgered by the hometown crowd, most of whom were rooting for R2K and local favorite Jenkins the entire night, couldn’t hit the game-winner.

No. 3 seeded R2K held on 100-98, upsetting No. 2 seeded Total Package to advance to the championship game on Sunday against No. 4 seeded Money Inc. at 4 p.m.

In other men’s league semifinal, Money Inc. downed Blax Ballers 87-73 to punch their ticket to the championship. The last game of the night ended at about 1 a.m. Will Hubbard paced Money Inc. with 25 in the rout.

The first game Friday evening featured C.A.S.W. taking on the Warriors in the youth league playoffs. The 16-and-under matchup may have been the best of the night as the Warriors topped C.A.S.W. in double OT.

Ike Gary had 24 points for the Warriors, who trailed by as many as 20 in the second half, but roared back to tie the game late in the fourth thanks to their defensive pressure and hot shooting. The Warriors hit several threes down the stretch, pressuring top-seeded C.A.S.W. After two overtime sessions, the No. 4 seeded Warriors sealed the upset and comeback 63-62. They will meet the Dragons in the 16-and-under championship Sunday at 2 p.m.

In the 14-and-under division, the Patriots bested C.A.S.W. 60-55. Jonel Paulino finished with 16 points in defeat for C.A.S.W. Two youth games highlighted the schedule Saturday.

Prior to the games, each regular season MVP was named for all of the divisions. Church received a diamond engraved watch for his play in the men’s league, while Miguel Rivera, Jr. (C.A.S.W.) and “Scooch” (Patriots) garnered the 16-and-under and 14-and-under MVPs, respectively.

For more info on HITS, visit www.hoopsinthesun.net.