BIG ONE PUTS DAMPER ON AMIGOS' DIVISION HOPES
SAN JOSE -- The home team Fighting Amigos, behind guards YourMajesty Lumpkins and Dayshotta Leo, put on a mad crunch time rush that fell short as the visiting Big One from Los Angeles registered a 78-72 victory, halting a five-game winning streak by the home team. The teams split the season series.
L.A., boasting the MBA's statistically best defense, stifled the league's second-best offense in the first half to lead by 10 at the halfway mark. They took a 12-point lead into the final quarter, which San Jose could not cut into until late. But the Amigos got to within 4 points and in possession of the ball with 13 time units remaining. San Jose's Egg Yolk Carpaccio took an ill-advised trey that missed, Anurag Dickshit of Los Angeles hit a short J and the game was sealed.
Los Angeles is now 5-4, tying its best win total since moving from Houston to La La Land (they went 5-5 in Season 40, their first on the West Coast),
San Jose is now 6-3, with its chances of maintaining first place in the West considerably diminished.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Yet another late-season triple-double was delivered in this game, this one from Los Angeles' second-year point guard DR. MARCUS BRODY, who captured his first POG this season. Last season's All-MBA guard as a rookie was struggling offensively this sophomore campaign, averaging just 12.6 per game and shooting just 40.4 percent. But he looked like last season's version of himself in this win, getting 16 points, tying for game-high in assists with 5 and tying for team-high in rebounds with 5. The 6-1 Brody was 5 for 9 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from deep, delivering many a back-breaker for the opponents. He was also 2 for 2 from the foul line. Brody also tied for most blocked shots in the game with 2.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Seventh-season Los Angeles forward Baba Brinkman led everyone in scoring with 20 points while pulling down a team-high (tied) 5 rebounds and adding 1 assist. He dominated rookie Cam Caldwell of San Jose.
-- San Jose point guard YourMajesty Lumpkins led his team in scoring with 19 points, grabbed 2 boards, had 1 assist and 1 steal in a spirited battle with Brody.
-- Honored by the hometown fans with a halftime ceremony that noted his six illustrious seasons in San Jose, shooting guard Dayshotta Leo started slowly ON HIS DAY before picking up the pace in the fourth quarter to finish with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and tying for most blocked shots with 2.
"The way I played in the first half," he said, pointing to his 2 for 12 shooting at the break, "I deserved to be shot in the head."
Leo plans to be a delivery man for a dry cleaning establishment upon retirement at the end of this season.
-- San Jose center Hunk R. Down also had a rough first half, taking just two shots and scoring 0 points in the first half. But the 7-footer played with passion in the second-half near-comeback, ending up with a game-high 11 rebounds, scoring 12 points, getting 1 assist and tying for game-high in blocks with 2. It's safe to say he got much the better of Los Angeles center Chutcher Mouthchair.
-- 6-10 San Jose power forward Egg Yolk Carpaccio finished with 14 pooints, 4 rebounds 1 steal and tied for most blocked shots with 2.
HONORING LEO
Noted at halftime was the six superb seasons Dayshotta Leo had while playing for his only club, the Fighting Amigos.
A steady scorer, the 6-5 guard has led his team in scoring three times, including this season. His lowest points per game campaign was 14.1 in the one season he was injured. He was never under 15 per game since, and expects to exceed his best season average of 18.2 this season. He is currently averaging 19.1 this campaign and is in position to retire after earning his first All-MBA star.
They begged him to stay another season, at least, but the streets of Cicero, where he plans to launder more than clothes, are calling.
NEXT UP: Sacramento (6-2) at Seattle (3-5). The River Dogs can move back into first place in the West with a road win here. They gobsmacked the Stampede 88-47 in their first outing behind POG Doo-rag Dripp.
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