Oklahoma City 69, Charleston 68
MOUTAINEERS LOSE ALL HOPE AS BOLIGRAFO GOES DOWN
OKLAHOMA CITY -- In a season replete with one serious injury after another, the hammer came down again in the opening game of the playoffs. This time it smashed the hopes of the Charleston Mountaineers, eliminating their team MVP and the league's top 3-point shooter, Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo, for the rest of the post season.

This just about hands the title to one of Tyler's teams, as Charleston, with Boligrafo leading the way, was Dave's best hope to grab the brass ring.

Boligrafo, was the game's leading scorer when he went down with 15 time units left in the second quarter, having already accumulated 18 points, which remained the highest total by anyone from Charleston in the entire game. When it was determined that the 7-game injury was to a Mountaineer, an "anybody but Boligrafo" calculation was immediately made. Any other position had a capable back-up. The next dice roll determined that it was a player 7-years or older, which meant either Boligrafo or Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan, with Boligrafo going first. He made it past the first roll, making it Gargantuan's turn. Charleston at least had a back-up for him in Sabado Gigante. But Gargantuan slipped through unhurt and it came back to Boligrafo, who was then fingered for the extended scratch.

Oklahoma City led 37-34 at the time the injury occurred, and the contest remained tight right to the very end when Player of the Game Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson gave the Lariats a lead they would not relinquish with a slam dunk over the block of Flip Testerton with 10 ticks left.

With the Lariats in front 67-66, Masterson then knocked the ball away from Testerton, who got it back and missed a long trey, which Masterson then rebounded.

Hurricane Furrwizard then made a lightning drive to the hole and scored for Oklahoma City, putting them up by 3. An Akbar Zagobia medium jumper was good with 3 left, but the Lariats then ran out the clock to get the win.

Phillip Mamouf-Wifarts, who played three games for Charleston during the season, will replace the injured Boligrafo on the Mountaineers.

PLAYER OF GAME
The usually low-key, but steady GOODBAR "MUDDY" MASTERSON broke out with style in this playoff win for the Lariats. He was the top scorer in the game with 20 points and also pulled down the most rebounds with 8, totally dominating his opposite, Flip Testerton. Masterson also tied for most steals in the game, registering a trio of thefts, and tied for most assists on his team with 3. The 6-7 Masterson was a monster around the basket, with 6 of his 10 field goals ending with slam dunks. He was 10 for 15 from the field for the game.

Other 20-plus GVP Performers
-- Like we said earlier, Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo was on his way to a spectacular game when he was felled. As it was, the 9-year veteran put up a team-high 18 points in less than half a contest, grabbed 2 rebounds, had 1 assist and 1 steal. He was firing away from deep just as instructed, going 4 for 8 from beyond. Charleston fans will be wondering what they could have done in the post-season with a hot Boligrafo leading the way.

-- Faced with the stifling defense of Willie Carry McCoffee, Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan of Charleston still managed to score 12 points with some great moves near the hoop. The 8-season pivot also led his team with 4 rebounds, tied for game-high with 3 steals and dished 2 assists in the losing cause. He definitely got the better of the younger, taller, McCoffee.

NEXT UP: The semifinals between Dallas (6-4) and Los Angeles (7-3) tips off with even more urgency in this best of three. The winner coming out of this would have been the favorite to win it all, even without the Boligrafo injury. But with the absence of Charleston's most dynamic player, and probably the absence of the Mountaineers altogether, this short series between the Demons and Big One could be for all the marbles.