DEMONS RETURN TO FIRST FINALS IN 11 SEASONS
MILWAUKEE -- There will be a six-win championship team for the first time in 30 MBA seasons. The Dallas Demons took out Milwaukee 78-66 in the decisive Game 3 of the semifinals and will meet the Charleston Mountaineers in the best of five MBA Finals. Both teams finished the regular season with 6-4 records.
After losing the first game of the semis 68-59, Dallas looked over-matched against the favored Milwaukee club. But the Demons came roaring back, winning Game 2 by 19 points, 80-61, and coasting home with a 78-66 lead in the final win on the road.
A 29-point third-quarter by Dallas, played almost in its entirety without the resting Lemon Jell-o, was the turning point in the game. Milwaukee had actually taken a one-point advantage in that quarter early on, but would never lead again.
Dallas, by virtue of its 102-98 thrilling overtime victory over Charleston in the Season 39 opener for both clubs, will open the series at home.
The Demons and the Mountaineers both have won three championships and have never faced off against each other in the finals.
Charleston won it all in their most recent finals appearance, Season 36.
Dallas last appeared in the finals in Season 28. They won the championship that season.
PLAYER OF GAME
Usually a defensive ace, Milwaukee small forward DANKE SHAME was his team's biggest weapon in the disappointing loss. Shame had a game-high 29 points, which is the most anyone has scored in this post-season thus far. Shame also led everyone in assists with 3 and pulled down 3 rebounds. The 6-5 fourth-year man was 13 for 15 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. Five of his field goals came on a series of spinning dunks.
OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS
--Retiring shooting guard Lemon Jell-o of Dallas was not ready to hang up his sneakers just yet. In this big Game 3 he scored 15 points, swiped a game-high 2 steals, pulled down 4 rebounds, had 2 assists and blocked 1 shot. He also held Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi to 5 for 17 shooting.
--After getting shut out by Danke Shame in a Game 1 defeat, retiring Dallas small forward Taylor Quackstick came up huge in the next two games, both wins, scoring 16, then 21 points. Many of his team-high 21 came in the fourth quarter in the finale while Dallas was wrapping up the win. And for the third time in as many games, the 6-6 Quackstick pulled down a game-high 7 rebounds. His play was the difference in this series.
THE ONE MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO FINALS TEAMS WAS A DOOZY
This cross-over game (below) way back in March was arguably the most entertaining contest of the season, with Dallas coming out on top in overtime. It was one of just two overtimes in Season 39 and the only time any team broke the 100-point barrier.
The Mountaineers will field the same lineup, but Dallas has since replaced T. Kanes Masterson with Lemon Jell-o at the two guard, moved Sven Marquardt from small to big forward and replaced Gulemon Mon-Mon in the starting lineup with Taylor Quackstick, who is at small forward.
NEXT UP: FINALS GAME ONE...CHARLESTON AT DALLAS
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