MOUNTAINEERS RETURN TO FORM, CAPTURE TITLE
DALLAS -- Although they did not finish with a perfect record, the new MBA champions from Charleston completed the best record in league history with a stylish 82-55 victory against the Dallas Demons in Texas.
Charleston, which doubled Dallas' score in the first quarter and was never in danger of losing, finished the Season 42 campaign with a 15-1 mark...(10-0 regular season, 5-1 in playoffs) to eclipse the previous best season mark of 14-1 (9-1, 5-0) set by Houston (now Los Angeles) in Season 34. The Mountaineers also broke the "unbeaten jinx," where undefeated regular season teams (Philadelphia in Season 6 and Oklahoma City in Season 18) were unable to follow up in the playoffs with a championship.
After bowing 87-83 in Game 3 of the Finals, Charleston left little doubt about completing the championship run in Game 4, sealing what would be a 27-point victory early on.
It is the fifth championship for Charleston, which has now won titles in Season 26, Season 27, Season 36, Season 39 and now Season 42. Only Philadelphia (with a ridiculous 15) and Milwaukee (with 7) exceed the Mountaineers. With this title, Charleston passes Houston/Los Angeles and its 4 championships.
Charleston now ties Oklahoma City for the most titles in the past 10 seasons, getting its third.
The Mountaineers, like Oklahoma City, are in the ecstatic throes of their best stretch of seasons in franchise history. Since Season 36 they have finished:
S36...1st 7-3 (5-2) Champions
S37...1st 7-3 (0-2)
S38...4th 5-5
S39...2nd 6-4 (5-1) Champions
S40...1st 7-3 (0-2)
S41...1st 8-2 (3-3) lost in finals
S42...1st 10-0 (5-1) Champions
overall 50-20 in regular season
18-11 in playoffs
Additionally, Charleston goes into the free agent season prior to Season 43, with its roster totally intact...no retirements.
Dave Masterson teams have now won seven of the past 8 MBA championships. They are still far behind Tyler teams in that category.
PLAYER OF GAME
Hall of Fame point guard NAF NAF of Charleston recovered from his Game 3 slump to score 20 points and tie for his team's top rebounding honor with 7 boards while dishing out 2 assists and swiping 1 steal. Naf, who had 17 of his 20 points in the first half, was 7 for 13 from the floor and 3 for 5 from 3-Point Land, sinking 3 of 4 free throws.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Charleston's wonderful pivot, J.J. Gargantuan completed an excellent campaign with a game-high 21-point performance, 3 rebounds and 1 blocked shot.
-- Charleston's third-year forward Pietro Destroyer had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and a game-high 5 assists.
-- Charleston's other forward, second-year man Wawa Wewa followed his 20-point Game 3 outing with 17 points in this one, tying Naf for team rebounding honors with 7 and nearly matching fellow forward Destroyer's assist total, getting 4.
-- With Beezow Bop-Bop returning to the Charleston lineup and guarding him, Dallas shooting guard Bingo Bango could not match his brilliant 37-point effort of the previous game. Bango did get 14 and again hit the boards hard for 6 rebounds while distributing 2 assists.
-- Steady veteran forward Matthew Vanden Boogart led Dallas with 18 points, getting 2 rebounds and 1 steal in the loss.
Finally: Following the contest, Dave Masterson rolled for the Chicago franchise to see if the Gale would be leaving the Windy City. They will not. (Whew!) They will spend at least one more season in the City of Big Shoulders, but must finish out of the cellar to avoid another such roll at the conclusion of next campaign.
NEXT UP: Official announcement of Playoff MVP and playoff stat leaders.
No comments:
Post a Comment