LARIATS DEFENSE ROPES, STRANGLES MOUNTAINEERS
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The MBA's best defense stopped the league's most prolific offense dead in its tracks to take Game 1 of the Season 41 Finals, 74-59, extending their amazing winning streak to 12.
The visiting Mountaineers were coming off semi-final victories where they tallied 96 and 97 points, but they had yet to run up against the smothering defenders of Oklahoma City.
Charleston came out swinging hard with a potent 22-point first quarter. But even in their brilliance, the visitors were accumulating fouls, most especially Naf Naf, who hit the bench with his second with 28 time units remaining. He sat again for 65 time units in the second when he picked up his third foul 5 time units in and again in the third with 22 left when he was whistled for number 4.
Defense for both teams was outstanding, but especially for the Lariats, much to the delight of the screaming, whooping Bunkhouse crowd. Neither team even shot 50 percent, with a combined total of 15 blocked shots making things dangerous for the offensive-minded. Two of the league's best centers stymied each other, with Charleston's J.J. Gargantuan limiting Hall of Famer and All-MBA pivot Max Payne to just 6 points, blocking 5 shots. Payne was even better, blocking 3 shots and shutting Gargantuan completely out. That match-up will be a brawl all series long.
The over-aggressive defense of Charleston gave the home team a 16-1 advantage at the foul line and resulted in a technical foul on Mountaineers coach Bill Rustler in the fourth quarter when he let loose with a tirade at one of the officials that included the phrase "You sir, are an oxygen thief."
PLAYER OF GAME
YIPEEKAYEE MASTERFALCON buried his former running mate at guard, Hall of Famer Naf Naf, who was making his first trip back to Oklahoma City. Masterfalcon posted a sizzling game-high 31 points, shooting 10 for 14 and 4 for 5 from beyond the arc. He was also 7 for 9 from the free throw line, pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out a game-high 4 assists. It's his second POG of the playoffs and second in a row.
OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES
-- Oklahoma City power forward Pap Smearz destroyed Pietro Destroyer, holding him to just 6 points. In the meantime, Smearz scored 16, grabbed 6 rebounds, had 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal.
-- Charleston shooting guard Beezow Bop-Bop has a habit of coming up huge in the post-season, having won two Playoff MVP awards. He led his team in scoring in this game with 22 points, pulling down 4 boards, tying for team-high with 3 assists and blocking 3 shots.
OKLAHOMA CITY VS. CHARLESTON
* This is the first time these two teams have ever met in the MBA finals.
* The last time they met in the playoffs was Season 27, where Charleston won 2-1 in the semis and went on to win their second title in a row.
* The last time the two teams even played each other was Season 37 in the season opener won by Oklahoma City. Both teams would win their divisions but lose in the semifinals. Seattle won the title that season.
* Both teams entered the Finals this season on winning streaks...Charleston with 5 and Oklahoma City 11.
* Charleston led in career victories 18-10 coming into the Finals. It's now 18-11.
NEXT UP: To Charleston, where the Mountaineers look to even the series.
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