C&J 6/10 Tournament Report

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It's been a while since anyone's posted a C&J tournament report, so this is just to let everyone know we haven't dropped off the face of the earth. Summer has descended on us here at C&J and with it comes the larger turnouts. While I didn't check the headcount I would say it was in the 25 player range. I usually don't do tournament reports but decided I'd do one for the heck of it. In attendance last night was:
Unstablecornbread-Brent
Kil0-Ken
Zhalfirin-Christian
Fishhead-Brian
Spevack-Max
and making an appearance but not playing Webster, and Shortguy. Also a host of fine players, just not sure if they lurk or post here. Here's the deck list* I played last night. I'll explain the choices below.

4 Basking Rootwalla
4 Wild Mongrel
3 Arrogant Wurm
3 Aquamoeba
3 Waterfront Bouncer*
3 Wonder*
2 Roar of the Wurm
2 D. Analysis
4 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
4 Force of Will
3 Circular Logic
1 Daze*
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring*
4 Polluted Delta
4 Tropical Island
3 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
3 Island
3 Forest
sb:
3 Ground Seal
3 Null Rod
3 Chill
3 Back to Basics
2 Naturalize
1 Oxidize

Prior to the start, I meet Dustin/Shortguy from the old tmd. He's been busy with school and away from T1 for the year. Talking about decks to beat and the current meta, I mention it's the unknown "rogue decks" you have to worry about in sanctioned play. This would come back to haunt me.

Round 1. Adam H - Rogue White?
Game 1. At C&J you just can't take anything for granted. I approach every opponent like he has a 1900 rating. Anyway, I see cards like Diving Griffin and Longbow Archers which I bounce back to his hand with Waterfront Bouncer. I have him down to 6 life from Mongrels and Rootwallas when he resolves a topdecked Moat. Moat? I have the answer, 3 maindeck wonders. Unfortunately I never see one and over the course of about 10 turns he manages to fly over with Commander Eesha. I look over my shoulder and Dustin is shaking his head.
Game 2: Out 2 Rootwalla, In 2 Naturalize
Read above. I have a Naturalize in my opening hand along with an Ancestral, Mongrel and mana. I should be able to draw into a Wonder. As it turns out his creatures fly, and some have protection from creatures so I'm unable to bounce them back. All I need is a Wonder, but I never saw it until the last 2 turns. 1 turn sooner I could have pulled it out. Well the answers were there in the deck, I just couldn't find them when I needed to. 0-1,0-2

Round 2. Adam, good player - U/G
Game 1. I keep an iffy hand since I'm not sure what he's playing. I soon see an Aquameoba and assume mirror. As in T2 the person with Wonder in the yard first usually wins, and that was the case here. Although I did put up a bit of a fight bouncing his creatures back.
Game 2 + 3. I bring in 2 Naturalize just in case since his version is a bit rogue with Spirit Guides. Waterfront Bouncer is MVP here and the rest of the night. I manage to strip his sided-in Maze of Ith, and a land or 2. Counter just at the right moment and bounce back blockers for the win. 1-1,2-3

Round 3. Dennis, good player - Combo Tendrils
Game 1.This was a classic U/G stampede. Opening hand consisted of Ancestral, Sapphire, Mongrel, Time Walk, and mana. He dies quick. All I saw was a Mountain, City of Brass, and a Tinder Wall. I suspect Belcher from the Tinder Wall, but the Mountain and City throw me. On a hunch I side in the Chills pulling the Wonders. Then I noticed he's sided out quite a few cards.
Game 2. I have a chill in my opening hand and some countermagic and decide to keep. I play a first turn Chill with mox and say go. I'm only able to come up with a Bouncer so the damge is going through 1 point at a time. His lone source of green allows him to try and Living Wish twice using up my counters. He manages to resolve a Sneak Attack. At this point I'm able to drop a few creatures and bounce some of his blockers back, but he manages to resolve another Wish for some huge creature for the win. I decide to leave the chills in, and bring in the 2 Naturalize.
Game 3. He quickly announces he'll keep. No mana, I go down to six. 1 land, Ancestral, and good enough. I play a Delta and say go. EOT, Ancestral goodness(Lotus, Sapphire, Time Walk.) This is closer to game 1. I lay mongrel, Rootwalla, Time Walk, swing, Strip, repeat. It seems he was playing a Tendrils combo and sided it out for a Sneak Attack combo of sorts. Not sure. 2-1,4-4

Round 4. Justin - T1 Rock
Game 1. I suspect Justin is playing Rock since he had asked me earlier in the evening if he thought it would do well tonight. Deed is good. I keep a decent hand and manage to lay 2 mongrels by turn 3. I circular logic his turn 3 Deed and that seals the game there as Bouncer keeps the blockers off the board for me. In 2 Naturalize, out 2 Rootwalla
Game 2. I keep a fast hand, no countermagic. At this point, I'm only concerned about Deed. I decide to race him and hold back a few creatures if he's able to cast and Deed on turn 4. Turn 2 topdeck Naturalize, and at this point I know the game is sealed. His turn 3 Deed, go. EOT Naturalize. He scoops after a another turn.
3-1, 6-4

This is how I finished the night. There was 1 more round, but sleep is more important to me. I tend to cut out by 10 or 10:30 as 5:00am rolls around pretty quick. As far as the deck, it's based on extended U/G. I'm a big fan of Waterfront Bouncer, Daze, and Gilded Drake. I just have no room in the side for the Drakes. I've spent some time tweaking it. Getting advice from Phuong the resident Standard player. MVP at this time is Waterfront Bouncer. Daze is another MVP, if it's seen early. Sol Ring per Jay Hood makes for faster flashbacks of Wurms. 3 Wonders? Bad mojo? I never see it when I need it. The 3rd was included hoping I would see one more often. I may cut it down to 2 at some point. I have long advocated U/G as a budget deck to new players at C&J. Jay plays a totally unpowered version and does well with it.