Season 55 Finals ... Game 3...Charleston at Dallas

DALLAS 82, CHARLESTON 60 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DAZZLING DEMONS 4-PEAT

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons, demonstrating that they are in a league of their own, captured their fourth consecutive MBA title, doing so by sweeping their way through the playoffs for the second straight season.

The crowning contest was an 82-60 victory before their home fans, during which the team was never really threatened. It was the seventh straight Finals win for what many consider the best starting lineup in the history of the league. 

Only one team, the Philadelphia Phobia of Seasons 29 through 33, with five straight titles, can challenge that distinction. Those Philly teams featured a starting lineup of five Hall of Fame players, giving this Dallas aggregation something to shoot for next season and the seasons to come. 

This latest Dallas championship saw the Demons hold Charleston, which was the second-highest scoring team in the league at 78.9ppg, to just 61.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Dallas averaged 86.7 per game in the Finals. 

As is their pattern, the Demons exploded for an 11-0 run to end the first quarter, holding Charleston to just 7 points in the first frame and setting off an early celebration. The fans in the stands were going so wild, it was like a thousand pogo sticks on a trampoline party with a side of confetti cannons and a marching band of chimpanzees playing vuvuzelas!

Points prevented by team

Dallas...14

Charleston ...4

Tops in points prevented

Biggus Dickus of Dallas with 6

6 others tied with 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

33 GVP...Charleston guard KOPI LUWAK...The highest scorer in this game, fittingly, was the former Dallas star who the Mountaineers mortgaged their future to acquire. The fourth-year sharpshooter, who missed the previous game due to injury, knocked down 5 treys in 12 tries on the way to a 27-point performance. The 6-2 Luwak was 9 for 18 from the floor and 4 for 6 from the foul line while tying for game-high in assists with 3. He added 2 rebounds and 1 steal. When he left the floor late in the game, the Dallas crowd acknowleged his effort with warm applause (or was that apple sauce?) 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...18 points...7 rebounds...3 assists...3 blocked shots...tops in points prevented. 

23 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...14 points (4 treys)...7 rebounds...2 assists. 

20 GVP...Dallas two guard, Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn...14 points...3 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal. 

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...15 points...5 rebounds.

DALLAS' 9  CHAMPIONSHIPS THROUGH THE YEARS

Only Philadelphia, with 16 titles, has more.

It took 15 seasons for Dallas to win their first title, but since Season 20, no team has won more

SEASON 55...9-1.....5-0 in playoffs

SEASON 54...10-0...5-0 in playoffs

SEASON 53...8-2.....5-2 in playoffs

SEASON 52...8-2.....5-2 in playoffs

                                                          

SEASON 47...10-0...5-0 in playoffs

SEASON 46...9-1.....5-1 in playoffs

                                                         

SEASON 28...9-1...5-3 in playoffs

                                                          

SEASON 21...7-3...5-1 in playoffs

SEASON 20...7-3...5-1 in playoffs

note...Dallas finished in first place in their division in every championship season.

NEXT UP: Announcement of Playoff MVP...listing of playoff stat leaders and summary.               

 

Season 55 Playoffs...Finals Game 2...Dallas at Charleston

DALLAS 82, CHARLESTON 67

CHARLESTON NOT SLAUGHTERED

CHARLESTON -- The Dallas Demons, perhaps bored by the ease in which they were killing an undermanned Charleston squad, turned in their first non-slaughter rule win in these playoffs, still gliding to a comfortable 82-67 win.

The three-time defending champs are now just one victory away from capturing their fourth consecutive title. They have now won 12 games in a row and have been victorious in 29 of their last 30 games.

This latest win looked like another blowout, with Dallas jumping out to a 14-0 run to start things out. The barrage continued into the third quarter, where the Demons, controlling the backboards like they owned them, led by as much as 30 points.

But in the fourth quarter, Charleston pride kicked in, and led by two-time All-MBA forward Piping Plover, the Mountaineers kind of made a sort of game of it, reducing the deficit all the way down to 12 points with 19 ticks left before the big bad boys from D Town finally brought home the 15-point victory. 

The Charleston fans, witnessing their first Finals home game in 10 seasons, never left their seats...standing and roaring as their Don Quixote team tilted at the monstrous windmill. Perhaps with the return to the lineup of Kopi Luwak in Game 3, the Mountaineers can make the Demons sweat a little more as Dallas moves unrelentingly toward another crown. 

Would a Charleston road win be asking too much? Probably.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Two-time All-MBA forward PIPING PLOVER of Charleston showed why he has earned two foil stars in the past two seasons, putting together a game-high 28-point performance in the face of one of the MBA's top defenders, Pete Marzano. With Charleston missing two of its top scorers, the team leaned heavily on the 6-7, third-year man who delivered 12 buckets on 19 shots, including a trey in his lone attempt from beyond the arc. He also slammed one home, added 3 for 3 from the foul line to make him 12 for 12 in the post-season, tied for game-high with 2 steals and grabbed 1 rebound. "The Rare Bird" is now averaging 19.3 ppg in the playoffs. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...18 points...9 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot. 

25 GVP...League MVP and Hall of Fame shooting guard Juzan Djinn...17 points...3 blocks...2 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

Points Prevented By quarters

Dallas...2...5...3...6  Total=16

Charl....3...1...3...6   Total=13

Tops in Points Prevented

1. Marzano, Dallas...7

2. Dickus, Dallas......6

3. Numdrum, Charleston...5

NEXT UP: The Dallas Demons return home just one win away from their 9th franchise championship and fourth in a row. This would be the sixth Dallas title in the past 10 seasons; a decade of dominance matched only by the Philadelphia super teams of Seasons 14 to 24, who delivered 7 in 11 campaigns.

 

Season 55 Playoffs...Finals Game 1...Charleston at Dallas

DALLAS 96, CHARLESTON 58 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

OH, THE HUMANITY

DALLAS -- The execution of the Charleston Mountaineers in this Season 55 Finals took one game as the three time-defending champion Dallas Demons rained down a bloodbath on the visitors in the Series opener, dominating with a 96-58 victory.

That makes three Slaughter Rule victories in three playoff games for the Demons this post-season.

A 24-8 second-quarter blitz by Dallas broke things wide open for the Demons who were never challenged thereafter. They led by 18 at the half, which happened to be the number of points accumulated to that point by last season's playoff MVP, Vicious Hick of the victors. 

Things got worse, as Charleston's main offensive threat, Kopi Luwak, became the second Mountaineers starter to be lost to injury. He was hurt halfway through the third quarter for the rest of the game and all of the next game, joining starting center Johnny Bananas in street clothes. 

The 38-point win was still well short of the 42-point victory playoff record set in Season 52 by Dallas over Milwaukee in the Finals. 

With the cut pile for guards at slim pickings, Charleston recruited third-year turd Swifty Twitch to replace Luwak on the roster for the next game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

44 GVP...Making his bid for a second consecutive Playoff MVP award, second-year Dallas point guard VICIOUS HICK was a bombadier personified in this win, dropping in 7 long ones in 9 attempts on the way to a game-high 32 points. Let's be clear...there is nobody at the guard position on Charleston who can guard Hick when he sets up shop behind the arc. The 6-2 Hick notched the third triple-double of his career by adding a game-high 7 assists and pulling down 5 rebounds. Together with fellow guard Juzan Djinn, the Dallas guard tandem had as many rebounds as the entire Charleston team. Hick sank 12 of his 15 shots and was 1 for 1 from the foul line. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Hall of Fame Dallas shooting guard and MBA MVP Juzan Djinn...16 points...6 rebounds...2 assists...2 blocked shots...1 steal.

25 GVP...Charleston rookie power forward Nick Kenpoop...17 points...4 rebounds...4 assists.

23 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...16 points...4 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...16 points...4 rebounds.

NEXT UP: The teams travel to Charleston for what will be the only home game for Mountaineer fans. With two Charleston starters out, this is no longer a remotely competitive championship series. 

MOST PLAYOFF MVPS

3...Cappy Gambol

3...Stu Nod

2...Chip Battoe

2...Dan Mann

2...Curly Hogbottom

2...Saggital Occlusal

2...Jonny Cockaroo

2...Boone Doggle

2...Hrundi V. Bakshi

2...Cock A. Doodledoo

2...Beezow Bop-Bop

2...Diss Reflexia

2...Juzan Djinn (active

 

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 2...Dallas at San Jose

DALLAS 83, SAN JOSE 59 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS GRIND UP AMIGOS
 SAN JOSE -- Two slaughter-rule games and out as the three-time defending champs from Dallas shake the San Jose team off its back like an eagle shakes off rain. This second win, an 83-59 road triumph in which they shot 65.4 percent, puts the Demons in the Finals for the fourth consecutive season. 

Following their usual pattern Dallas used an ungodly spurt of 25-8 in the third quarter to put this clinching contest out of reach.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

22 GVP...San Jose rookie point guard DONNIE DUPONS led his team in scoring with 17 points while posting a game-high 4 assists. The 6-2 Dupons was 5 for 13 from the field, potting 2 of 7 from deep and going 5 for 5 at the foul line. He added 1 rebound.

22 GVP...Hall of Fame Dallas shooting guard JUZAN DJINN led all scorers with 20 points, going 9 for 14 from the field while canning 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. He added 1 rebound and 1 assist.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

None

Points prevented by quarters

Dallas...0...9...6...0   Total=15

S.Jose...0...2...4...4...Total-10

Tops in points prevented

1. Pete Marzano, Dallas...6

2. St. Ides, San Jose...4

NEXT UP: Game 1 of the Finals, with heavily favored Dallas hosting Charleston. The Mountaineers are the only team to have defeated the Demons in the champs' last 28 games, doing so in astounding fashion with an 89-69 drubbing in Dallas in the second game of the season. The Demons avenged that loss by crushing Charleston at home 84-52. 

This will be just the second time Charleston and Dallas have locked horns in the Finals. The only time they met with the championship on the line was in Season 42, with Naf Naf-led Charleston coming out on top in the 2019 Florida games, 3 games to 1. It was the Mountaineers' last championship, with Dallas spoiling what would have been a perfect season with a Game 3 87-83 upset, led by Demons Playoff MVP Bingo Bango's 37 points.

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals...Seattle at Charleston...Game 2

 Charleston 79, Seattle 76

MOUNTAINEERS IN FINALS

CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Mountaineers, minus injured center Johnny Bananas, held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Seattle Stampede to sweep this SemiFinals series with a 79-76 win to return to the MBA Finals for the first time since Season 45.

It was a bittersweet win for Charleston, which lost its two-time All-MBA center Bananas early in the second quarter to a 7-game injury (basically the rest of the playoffs). What would the playoffs be without a Dave team losing a key player? Rookie Flatfoot Floogie turned in an excellent performance as the Mountaineer's new pivot, but will he be able to stand up to the rigors presented by Biggus Dickus and Dallas?

Seattle lost despite shooting 65.5 percent. Free throws were a major factor, with Charleston sinking 17 of 18 compared to just 3 of 4 for the Stampede.

Following six seasons in the cut pile, center John-John Grubb was called up by Charleston management to replace Johnny Bananas on the Finals roster. Grubb has never seen MBA action.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...Charleston's two-time All-MBA small forward PIPING PLOVER followed up his 18-point Game One performance with a game-high 24-point effort to earn POG honors. The 6-7, third-year man was the go-to guy in this one for the Mountaineers, going 9 for 14 from the floor (1 for 2 from deep and 5 for 5 from the foul line) while pulling down 4 boards and assisting once. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Seattle point guard Bellybutton Inquisition...18 points...7 assists...2 rebounds.

25 GVP...Charleston's rookie back-up center Flatfoot Floogie...19 points...5 rebounds...1 assist.

24 GVP...Seattle forward Erik A. Crocidale...16 points...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...1 assist.

22 GVP...Seattle All-MBA center Chochky Galumpkus...18 points...2 assists...1 rebound...1 block

21 GVP...Charleston power forward Nick Kenpoop...15 points (3 slams)...3 rebounds...2 blocks...1 assist.

21 GVP...Charleston guard Kopi Luwak...16 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.

NEXT UP: San Jose faces the daunting task of having to beat mighty Dallas two games in a row. Look for the Demons to take their familiar place in the Finals against the latest Dave team to face these Goliaths.

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...San Jose at Dallas

DALLAS 74, SAN JOSE 54 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DALLAS DEMONS DOMINATE

DALLAS--Three-time defending champion Dallas handed visiting San Jose its head on the way to a 74-54 Slaughter Rule victory to begin its Season 55 playoff run.

San Jose, which was held to 44.4 percent shooting and out-rebounded 31-18, actually led 11-10 early in the game before the Demons ripped off 12 consecutive points to end the first quarter, signaling the start of the ass-whooping.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Former playoff MVP PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO got his post-season off to an outstanding start as he dominated Scobee Bryant of San Jose on the way to a game-high 24-point performance that included a game-high 5 blocked shots. Marzano nearly doubled his regular-season average of 12.2 points per game, going 11 for 16 from the floor and repeatedly burning the Amigos with one short jump shot after another. The 6-8 fourth-year small forward was 0 for 2 from deep, slammed one home and was 2 for 3 from the foul line. Besides killing it defensively, he added 2 rebounds.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...14 points...7 rebounds...2 assists. 

22 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...12 points...8 rebounds...2 assists. 

22 GVP...San Jose's All-MBA shooting guard Vinnie Zazeech...19 points...2 rebounds...1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...11 rebounds...9 points...1 assist. 

NEXT UP: Seattle will be fighting for its playoff life as it takes to the road to visit Charleston, which can wrap up a Finals berth with a second straight victory. 

 

Season 55 playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...Charleston at Seattle

Charleston 75, Seattle 63

MOUNTAINEERS WIN OPENER

SEATTLE -- The visiting Charleston Mountaineers got a monster game off the bench from bombadier Itsaka Numdrum and took advantage of Seattle's season-long inability to hit from beyond the arc, capturing Game 1 in this best of 3, 75-63.

Playing their first playoff game in five seasons, Charleston used a 29-point second quarter to stake themselves to a 48-33 halftime lead, with Numdrum nailing 3 of his 4 treys during that stretch. They upped that advantage to 20 points early in the third quarter, in what looked like the development of a blowout game, but Seattle fought back stubbornly to within 12 going into the fourth.

With a coffee-fueled Seattle crowd exhorting them on, the Stampede got within 8 points, but their 1 for 15 shooting from deep was something they could not overcome. 

During the season, Seattle was the worst in the league from beyond the arc, shooting 15.2 percent, so this was no fluke.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...Playing outstanding ball in a losing effort, second-year Seattle two guard HILBEE "THE SKINNY GERMAN" JUGGLEBOY scored 14 points, grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds, blocked a game-high 3 shots, dished 3 helpers and swiped 1 steal. The 6-2 defensive stalwart was 5 for 9 from the floor (0 for 2 from deep) and 4 of 5 from the foul line. He started the game with a 5-rebound first quarter.

 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Charleston's All-MBA forward Piping Plover...18 points...4 rebounds...2 steals...2 assists.

24 GVP...Charleston guard Kopi Luwak...16 points...5 rebounds...3 assists.

22 GVP...Charleston substitute guard Itsaka Numdrum...16 points...(4 treys)...5 rebounds...1 steal.

22 GVP...Seattle foraward Erik A. Crocidale...16 points...4 rebounds...1 assist...1 blocked shot.

NEXT UP: The powerful Dallas Demons (9-1) begin their quest for a fourth consecutive MBA crown as they host the underdog San Jose Fighting Amigos (7-3). The Demons have won 6 consecutive playoff games with basically the same overwhelming lineup and have a 25-1 record in their last 26 contests. Meanwhile, San Jose returns to the post season for the first time in three seasons, with a 3-game winning streak. Dallas counters with an 8-game victory streak of its own. The two clubs, which boast the two youngest starting lineups in the MBA,  did not meet during the regular season.