LARIATS SHAKE OFF PESKY GREYHOUNDS FOR WIN
MILWAUKEE -- The Oklahoma City Lariats completed a two-game semifinals sweep of the Milwaukee Greyhounds, 93-83, advancing to the championship round for the first time since their one and only title in Season 35.
It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that the favored visiting squad grabbed the lead and finally solidified the victory that will take the most prolific scorer in MBA history, Naf Naf, to his first finals.
Milwaukee, with Naf in a forced rest for all but 10 time units in the first quarter, grabbed a 22-16 lead after one. After Oklahoma City charged back, both the second and third quarters ended with the score tied.
Finally, Oklahoma City seemed to gain control at crunch time, leading by seven before Milwaukee made their final charge. They were within two points, 83-81, with posession, when the Lariats' Yipeekayee Masterfalcon stole the ball. Hall of Fame Lariats center Max Payne slam dunked at the other end and the Greyhounds never threatened again.
The home team went balls out in this one, with coach Fly Davia using the same five players throughout and the Greyhounds emulating their mascot namesake by flying up and down the court, jacking up 70 shots. But in the end, the highest scoring team in history put the pedal to the proverbial metal with a 32-point fourth quarter and left Milwaukee in the rear-view mirror.
PLAYER OF GAME
Fourth-year center UGATTA NOLUVFER SPIKIE of Milwaukee was every inch the biggest man in the MBA in this game as the 7-1 pivot pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, scored 17 points, blocked 1 shot and stole 1 pass. He played Hall of Famer Max Payne to a virtual standstill and was a driving force in the near-win.
OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS
-- Despite sitting out almost all of the first quarter and much of the third, Oklahoma City's Hall of Fame guard Naf Naf led everyone in scoring with 26 points. The dead-eye point guard followed up his record-setting performance of 9 playoff treys by popping in 8 on 11 attempts, going 8-for-13 overall. He also led everyone with 2 steals.
-- Yipeekayee Masterfalcon, the two guard for Oklahoma City, stepped up big time when Naf was on the bench. Masterfalcon scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, was 3-for-4 from deep, led the team in rebounds with 6, had 3 assists and 1 steal.
-- Hall of Fame center Max Payne, after scoring 17 in Game 1, delivered 20 big points in Game 2, matching his much younger opponent's overall effort. The 15-year vet showed he has not lost a thing in rim-protection ability, leading both teams with 5 blocked shots. He also pulled down 3 boards.
-- Point guard Baskets Weaver of Milwaukee scored 18 points, dished a team-high 4 assists, blocked 1 shot and pulled down 2 boards in the loss.
-- The MBA's best forward this season, Baba Brinkman led his Milwaukee team in scoring with 20 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and had a team-high 2 blocks.
-- Milwaukee small forward Danke Shame scored 15 points, had 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
UP NEXT; The Seattle Stampede looks to complete a first-round upset as it hosts the defending champion Charleston Mountaineers. The Stampede is ahead in the best-of-three series 1-0.
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