Season 58, Featured Game No. 9...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 90, OKLAHOMA CITY 65 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS DESTROY LARIATS

DALLAS -- With this 90-65 manhandling by Dallas of Oklahoma City, the playoff teams are set for Season 58. All that remains is determining first place in the East in a race between current leader Philadelphia and the six-time-defending-champion Demons and who gets home court advantage throughout the post-season.

This Featured Game was competitive up until halftime. In the third quarter, Dallas outscored the visitors 20-7 and it was all over. 

The Demons, who possess the longest current winning streak at 5, crushed Oklahoma City defensively, preventing 19 would-be points.

The victors shot 71.2 percent from the floor to just 50.9 percent for the Lariats.

Points prevented...Dallas 19, Oklahoma City 3

Turnovers caused: Oklahoma City 4, Dallas 3

Tops in points prevented: Juzan Djinn of Dallas with 13, Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas with 4

Tops in turnovers caused: Oblio Assbag of Oklahoma City with 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

27 GVP...Role-playing power forward NICK KENPOOP of Dallas stepped up and claimed POG honors for the first time this season with a game-high 20-point performance. The 6-10, fourth-year man dominated Oklahoma City's L.S. Island, scoring on 8 of 9 shots, slamming home 3 dunks and going 4 of 6 from the foul line. The sharp passing big man tied for game-high in assists with 4 while pulling down 3 boards. A steady, if not spectacular piece in the last two Dallas championships, Kenpoop is now scoring at a modest-but-steady 12 points per game, which is tied for his best scoring season.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas small forward Venial Sinn...19 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

23 GVP...Oklahoma City small forward Rumpy Pumpy Lewis...17 points...3 rebounds...3 assists.

20 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...11 points...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...2 assists...game-high 13 points prevented.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS………………7-2 (clinched playoffs)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

CHARLESTON……….3-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs and first place in division)

SACRAMENTO… 6-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………4-5 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………1-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP:  Bracket 9 concludes with first-place Philly at last-place Milwaukee. The Phobia is still jostling for first in the East with Dallas as well as home court throughout the playoffs. They held Milwaukee to 53 measly points in their first meeting, winning by 15 behind Itstha Bishop and Leonard Pinth Garnel’s duo POG performances.

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 8...Sacramento at Los Angeles

 

LOS ANGELES 82, SACRAMENTO 79

L.A. comes back in barn-burner

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Big One (now 7-1), trailing by 9 points with 54 time units left in the game, rallied to come all the way back for an electrifying 82-79 victory over second-place Sacramento (now 5-3). 

The victory clinches a playoff spot for L.A.; its second in a row. They join Philadelphia as guaranteed post-season teams.

The Big One used a trio of 3-pointers by Vicious Hick in the fourth quarter and took the lead for good on a short jumper by center Otzi Bolzano with 3 time units remaining. 

The victory gives L.A. its first 7-win season in eight campaigns; the most since Season 50 when they went 9-1 in a championship year.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP..."MIGHTY MITE" BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION was the star of the show for the Sacramento River Dogs in this tough loss. The 5-11, 6th-year veteran scored a game-high 27 points in a head-to-head shootout with league scoring leader Pinky Toe of L.A. Inquisition got off to a great start, scoring 11 points in the first quarter on the way to a 12 for 20 shooting day, with 1 slam dunk. He was also 3 for 3 from the foul line and tied for game-high in assists with 4 and team-high in rebounds with 4. A three-time all star, this hard-driving back court player has become sharper with the passage of time. He's scoring at a career-best 17.6 points per game and has sparked the revitalized Sacramento franchise after coming to them in the free agent draft. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...15 points...5 rebounds...4 blocked shots...1 assist...1 steal.

25 GVP...Hall of Fame Los Angeles point guard Vicious Hick...17 points (4 treys)...6 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "the Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...13 points...5 rebounds...1 blocked shot...1 assist

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...21 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS…………………6-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-4

CHARLESTON……….3-5 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs)

SACRAMENTO… 5-3

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………1-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Bracket 8 concludes with Seattle hosting Gillette. A win would put the home team Stampede just one game behind Sacramento for the second playoff berth. But there is no guarantee. The Humps bested Seattle in Bracket 6 with a 75-68 setback behind the hot shooting of Maboroshi No Hotcake. 

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 7...Philadelphia at Los Angeles

PHILADELPHIA 70, LOS ANGELES 66

DEFENSE PREVAILS 

IN SHOWDOWN

LOS ANGELES -- Led by the efforts of Tut Ankhamun, Blob Dylan and Leonard Pinth Garnel, the league-leading defense of the Philadelphia Phobia (now 6-1) held the MBA's top offense 19 points below their average as they triumphed 70-66 in this cross-over showdown of first place teams.

The loss was the first blemish on The Big One's record (now 6-1) and improved the East vs. West record to 5-2 this campaign.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard PINKY TOE led all scorers in this losing effort, with a 20-point performance in which the fifth-year man was 9 for 16 (2 of 5 from deep, 0 of 1 from foul line). He added 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Toe, who is shooting for his second All-MBA foil star, is second in the league in scoring with a 22-points per game average. He's leading the L.A. squad in scoring for the fifth straight season. This was his fourth POG, tying him for the lead league.

25 GVP...The league's best defensive center, BLOB DYLAN of Los Angeles, scored a team-high 19 points in this huge win, giving him a career-best 15.3 ppg scoring average this season. The 6-11 sixth-year man was 9 for 11 from the floor (1 for 1 from the foul line) with a team-high 5 rebounds and the team's only blocked shot. It was the first POG of the season for Dylan.

25 GVP...6-10 small forward LEONARD PINTH GARNEL is having a banner year in this, his fifth campaign. He's leading the league in rebounding, is third in assists and is averaging a career-best 13.4 ppg. In this win he was 7 for 10 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep), handing out a game-high 7 assists and pulling down 3 rebounds. He's on track for his first All-MBA star and is currently tied with Toe for most POGs in the league with 4. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...9 points...8 rebounds...3 blocks...2 assists...1 steal.

22 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...16 points...3 assists...2 rebounds...1 steal

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………6-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….3-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-5

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-1

SACRAMENTO… 5-2

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………0-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Last-place Milwaukee at Dallas. A loss by the Greyhounds would eliminate them from playoff contention, joining San Jose in that category. The defending champion Demons bested a surprisingly game Milwaukee club in their first meeting 83-77 behind the POG heroics of center Poop-Rupiah 3000. 

Season 58 Featured Game 6...Philadelphia at Dallas...plus a look at scoring and rebounding leaders

DALLAS 79, PHILADELPHIA 69

DEMONS WIN WITH SURGE IN FOURTH

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons (now 4-2) dealt the visiting, first-place Philadelphia Phobia (now 5-1) their first defeat of Season 58, using a strong fourth quarter to turn a closely fought contest into a 79-69 victory. The win split the season series between the two East Division front runners and brought the six-time defending champion Demons to within a game of the Phobia.

The loss by Philly makes Los Angeles the only unbeaten team in the MBA right now. 

While Philadelphia, the top defensive team in the MBA, played hard-nosed defense, preventing 19 points by Dallas, free throws proved to be the main difference in the game. Dallas shot 13 more charity tosses than did the Phobia, going 14 of 15 at the line.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...9...4...0...6  Total=19

Dallas.............2...2...0...2...Total=6

Top Players points prevented

1. Blob Dylan, Philadelphia 8

2. Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia 6

3. Venial Sinn, Dallas 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...2...1...2...0  Total=5

Dallas.............3...0...0...3  Total=6

Top Players turnovers caused

1. Mini Carfartt, Dallas 3

2. Nick Kenpoop, Dallas 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

39 GVP...The smallest starter in the league at 5-10, Dallas point guard MINI CARFARTT, grabbed his first POG of the season, scoring from all four zones on the court to produce a game-high 33 points. The effort was in direct contrast to the first meeting with Philly, when Carfartt scored just 4 points and fouled out in a 1-point loss. The little guy was 12 for 17 from the floor, a perfect 2 for 2 from deep and 7 for 7 from the free throw line. He also tied for the team lead with 3 assists while pulling down 2 rebounds and registering 1 steal. Defensively, he was the top player in the game at causing turnovers, with 3. The fourth-year player is now averaging 14.3 points per game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...23 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds.

25 GVP...Dallas center Poop-Rupiah 3000...15 poionts (5 slams)...8 rebounds...1 block...1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...16 points...2 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

21 GVP...Philadelphia point guard Tut Ankhamun...13 points...6 assists...1 steal...1 rebound.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...7 points...8 rebounds...2 assists...2 steals...1 block.

20 GVP...Philadelphia power forward Philibuck Davia...18 points (7 slams)...2 rebounds.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………5-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….2-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-4

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-0

SACRAMENTO… 4-2

GILLETTE………2-4

SEATTLE………2-4

SAN JOSE………0-6

NEXT UP: The final game of bracket 6 has Charleston looking for revenge against Milwaukee on the Greyhounds’ home court. Milwaukee edged the Mountaineers in their first meeting 76-74 for their only win thus far. Charleston can get back to .500 with a victory, but a loss would drop them behind Milwaukee in the standings.

SEASON 58 MBA SCORING LEADERS

23.8 ppg...Famichiki Whiskey, Milwaukee

22.3 ppg...Pinky Toe, Los Angeles

21.5 ppg...Juzan Djinn, Dallas (Hall of Fame)

19.5 ppg...Bonifazio Spegatini, Oklahoma City (rookie)

19.3 ppg...Rabbit Munchers, Sacramento

SEASON 58 MBA REBOUNDING LEADERS

6.7 per game...Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia

5.4 per game...Scobee Bryant, Milwaukee

5.3 per game...Brother Jasper, Gillette

5.3 per game...Blob Dylan, Philadelphia

5.3 per game...Satan Israel, Sacramento (retiring)

Season 58 All Star Game in Sacramento

WEST 82, EAST 81 (Buzzer Beater)

WEST TAKES A THRILLER

SACRAMENTO -- Power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho's free throw after the final buzzer gave the West a one-point, 82-81 victory in one of the more riveting All Star Games in MBA history.

With the West trailing by two points and one time unit left, Fuyacho got the ball down low, scored, tying the game, and was fouled by Leonard Pinth Garnel. The 6-10 third-year man from Los Angeles then calmly sank the accompanying free throw for the victory, which was the second in a row for the West.

The East still leads the series 36 to 22, but in games played in Sacramento, the West is now 5-1.

Trailing 62-54 entering the fourth quarter, the West slowly worked its way back to within 4 points when guard Pinky Toe of Los Angeles drove to the hole, scored and was fouled with 4 ticks left. His subsequent free throw was no good, but it was Toe who came flying in from the free throw line and tipped in his own miss to tie the score with 3 left.

Then in the waning moments, Garnel's lob to Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas resulted in a slam and a two-point lead for the East with just one time unit remaining, leading to the Fuyacho heroics.

It was the closest All Star Game finish since Season 30 when Oklahoma City rookie guard Jerry Curl hit a medium jumper at the horn to give the West a 75-74 triumph.

Yes...Oklahoma City was in the West at that point.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

33 GVP...Fifth-year veteran Los Angeles guard PINKY TOE can now add All Star Game MVP to his Rookie of the Year, All-MBA and 5 All Star appearances in as many seasons. The 6-2 Toe led the fourth-quarter charge for the winning West, including the dramatic 4-point play that tied it up near game's end. He scored a game-high 28 points on 13 of 21 shooting that included 2 for 6 from deep and 0 for 1 from the foul line. (The reluctant Toe would not reveal if he missed that free throw on purpose as part of his game-tying play). He added 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

31 GVP...Dallas center Poop-Rupiah 3000...25 points (6 slams)...3 rebounds...2 blocks...1 steal.

25 GVP...Gillette center Brother Jasper...21 points (4 slams)...4 rebounds.

24 GVP...Oklahoma City rookie guard Bonafazio Spegatini...19 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.

Season 58 All Star Rosters announced...plus history and extras

The East has won 36 All Star Games. The West has 21 wins, including last season's 84-64 victory led by All Star Game MVP Vicious Hick of Los Angeles who led the way with a game-high 21 points.

-- With his All Star Game selection, Dallas' Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn, the face of the current MBA, has now earned 22 awards on his card, which ties him for third-most in league history with Max Payne and Chip Battoe. Only Naff Naff, with 23 awards and Curly Hogbottom, at the top of the pyramid with 25, have more.

-- This is the seventh time Djinn has made the starting lineup for an All Star Game, which ties him for second place in that category with Hall of Famers Boone Doggle and Uncle Bob Masterson. He is one behind the all-time leader Momadou Zongo, with 8 starts.

-- Djinn is currently 7th in All Star Game scoring with 107 points...Uncle Bob Masterson is first all-time with 158.

-- Djinn already has the most assists in All Star Game history with 21.

-- Djinn already has the most blocks in All Star Game history with 22.

-- Just 7 of the 20 All Stars made last season's All Star rosters.

-- None of the East starters for this coming All Star Game made the All Star roster last season. In fact, only Poop-Rupiah 3000 and Phillip Mianus from the East, were on last season's All Star roster.

-- Five West players made last year's All Star Game.

-- The only two players who started last season and this season are Pinky Toe of Los Angeles and J.J. "Jake" Pickle of Seattle.

-- Two of the four current Hall of Fame players made the All Star Game...Juzan Djinn of Dallas and Vicious Hick of Los Angeles. Chochky Galumpkus of San Jose was injured early in the season and Crentis Dentist of Seattle is no longer a starter. 

-- The most players from any one rookie class to make this All Star Game come from Season 54...Leonard Pinth-Garnel, Tut Ankhamun, Pinky Toe, Brother Jasper, Vicious Hick and Hilbee Juggleboy.

-- There are eight first-time All Stars in this game, including the only rookie, Bonafazio Spegatini of Oklahoma City.

-- This will be the final All Star Game for Oklahoma City center Johnny Bananas and Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus. Both will retire at the conclusion of this season.

20-plus GVP players who did not make the team

-- Bellybutton Inquisition of Sacramento (21.2 GVP)

-- Maboroshi No Hotcake of Gillette (21.8 GVP)

-- Duran-Duran of Oklahoma City (20.0 GVP)

-- Scobee Bryant of Milwaukee (21.6 GVP)

-- Venial Sinn of Dallas (21.2 GVP)

-- Eric A. Crocidale of Seattle (20.2 GVP)

-- Two retiring players who would have made the Hall of Fame had they been named to the All Star Game failed to gain their 10th award ... Satan Israel of Sacramento (18.6 GVP) and Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer of San Jose (19.4 GVP). 

This is the sixth time that Sacramento has hosted the All Star Game, and the West has won four of the previous five held at the home of the River Dogs. They are:

-- Season 10...West 94, East 82...MVP and top scorer, Hall of Fame forward Marshall Stax of Oklahoma City (30 points).

-- Season 16...West 87, East 75...MVP Z.Z. Magoo of Dallas...top scorer Piston Honda of Chicago (22 points).

Season 25...East 82, West 80...MVPs (3-way tie) Hall of Famer Boone Doggle of Chicago, Sammy Zazooch of Milwaukee and Marcus Pettis of Oklahoma City. Pettis was the top scorer with 19 points.

Season 34...West 74, East 68...MVP Smokey Talisker of Seattle (the first of back to back ASG MVPs)...top scorer Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston (22 points).

Season 42...West 71, East 69...MVP and top scorer... Ginger Vampire of Oklahoma City 24 points.

Season 58 Featured Game No. 5...Gillette at Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES 88, GILLETTE 83

BIG ONE GETS OVER THE HUMPS

LOS ANGELES -- After starting Season 58 with a four-game road trip, the home team Los Angeles Big One (now 5-0) held off the charges of an obstinate Gillette team (now 1-4) by a score of 88-83 to secure a perfect record at the All Star break.

Both teams shot over 60 percent in the game, but the Big One had major advantages in both rebounding (23-14) and free throwing (16 made to 7). Still, Gillette had the home crowd sweating bullets as the Humps led by 7 points in the fourth quarter with 41 time units remaining. But the prospect of victory for the visitors dimmed considerably when star guard Maboroshi No Hotcake fouled out with 38 ticks left and his team ahead by just 4. 

Ten time units later Los Angeles tied the game, then took the lead for good at the 20 time unit mark. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Journeyman ball-handling wizard SEEYALATER SCRONTO comes up with these kinds of superb games every once in a while, and his efforts in this loss kept things interesting to the very end. The 5-11, seventh-season guard put on a show with a game-high 24-point performance that included a game-high 5 assists, a steal and a blocked shot as he went toe-to-toe with his opposite, Pinky Toe. The diminutive Scronto went 9 for 18 from the floor, including 2 of 5 from deep and 4 of 4 from the foul line. He had a total of 29 points in the first four games of the season before nearly matching that number in this game. Scronto is playing for his fourth different team in seven seasons and third different team in the past three campaigns (including spending half of last season in the cut pile). He's now averaging 10.6 ppg.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...23 points...3 rebounds...3 assists...1 steal.

28 GVP...Los Angeles power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho...20 points...6 rebounds...1 block...1 assist. 

22 GVP...Gillette point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake...19 points...2 assists...1 rebound. 
21 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "The Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...15 points...3 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot. 

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………4-0

DALLAS………………3-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-2

CHARLESTON……….2-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-4

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….5-0

SACRAMENTO… 3-2

SEATTLE………….2-3

GILLETTE…………1-4

SAN JOSE…………0-4

NEXT UP: The first half of Season 58 concludes with a thud of a game as the league’s only win-less team, San Jose, travels to Philadelphia to face one of the two remaining unbeaten MBA squads. This cross-over will likely give the East a familiar 4-1 victory mark over the West at the mid-point. To further emphasize the disparity of the two teams, Philly has the best defense in the MBA, yielding just 63 points per game, while San Jose has the worst defense, giving up 88.8 ppg.

BONUS

MBA MVP LADDER

(leading candidates coming into Featured Game)

Dave picked Djinn to win the MVP and he’s rebounded from a sub-par season (for him) to take a somewhat dominant lead in the MVP race. Meanwhile, the move to small forward for Leonard Pinth Garnel has allowed his talents to shine brighter than ever. He’s having an outstanding season. Coincidentally, Philadelphia traded the man in third place at the moment to Oklahoma City, receiving Philibuck Davia in return, which allowed the Garnel move to small forward. Spegatini has been outstanding in the first half of the season for the Lariats.

1. Ninth-year Dallas 6-2 Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN 31.4 GVP plus 4 points for second place team = 35.4…Second in league in scoring (22.6 ppg)…third in free throwing (82.8 % with 24 made)…Second in blocked shots (15)…top scoring game of season (36 points)…two-time regular season MVP…three-time playoff MVP.

2.  Fifth-year Philadelphia 6-10 small forward LEONARD PINTH GARNEL 28.8 GVP plus 5 points for first place team = 33.8….top rebounder in league (7.5)…second in assists (4.5)…third in 3-point shooting (80 % with 4 made)…second in steals (5).

3. Oklahoma City 6-5  rookie shooting guard BONAFAZIO SPEGATINI 28.6 GVP plus 3 points for third place team = 31.6…third in league scoring (21.6 ppg)

 

MBA ROOKIE LADDER

(leading candidates coming into Featured Game)

The Spegatini trade described in the former section gave the shooting guard a chance to start, which he would not have had with Philadelphia. He’s seized the opportunity big time. Both Dave and Tyler picked Zigler to win the Rookie honor.

1. Oklahoma City 6-5 shooting guard BONAFAZIO SPEGATINI…28.6 GVP…21.6 ppg

2. Charleston 5-9 point guard HUMUHUM APUA…21.4 GVP…15.8 ppg

3. Gillette 6-8 forward ZACH “ZING-ZING” ZIGLER…16.4 GVP…12.3 ppg