Los Angeles 75, Sacramento 74 (Buzzer Beater)

McDoogle trey wins it at the horn for L.A.

LOS ANGELES -- Avenish McDoogle came off the bench with one time unit remaining and hit a 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a stunning 75-74 victory over the previously unbeaten Sacramento River Dogs. 

Just one play earlier, 7-foot L.A. forward Tomm Foolerie had blocked a sure basket by Pap Smearz that would have clinched the game. A whistle (Doot-Doot-Doot) occured that stopped play with 1 time unit left. A jump ball would have to take place. Meanwhile, it was determined that Dr. Marcus Brody, because of his injury history, had to be removed from the game for a forced rest. Enter McDoogle.

Jonk Vanderdonk out-jumped Tree Fiddy to give L.A. the last shot (thanks to home court advantage), the ball went to McDoogle, who drained the trey to set off a Big One fan celebration.

Normally, ace Sacramento defender Great Gruncle Terry would have been defending that shot, but both he and his running mate at guard, Potus Obama, had fouled out of the game within 8 time units of each other. Obama fouled out with 46 tics left and Sacramento leading by 10, 72-62. Terry fouled out last with 38 time units left in the game and the R-Dogs up 72-64. The visitors could muster just 2 points after Obama left the game with 46 left, with The Big One playing swarming defense.

It's rare that a team shoots 70.8 percent and loses, but that's what happened in this featured game.

The win moves Los Angeles past Sacramento into first place at the All Star Game break, with both teams at 4-1 and three division wins. This head to head win gives L.A. the top spot for now.

Special note: Up until I recounted the score with 6 time units left I had Sacramento with 76 points. I think I may have forgotten to mark a basket for one of the Sacramento players, but, in keeping with the procedure I have always followed, I subtracted 2 points from the R-Dogs score (maybe screwing myself). Either way, the uncharacteristic fouling did Sacramento in more than anything. 

Points Prevented by Quarters

Sacramento...6...2...2...2   Total=12

L.A................2...4...4...6   Total-16

Points Prevented Leaders

1. Tomm Foolerie, Los Angeles 6

2. Dr. Marcus Brody, Los Angeles 4

2. Tree Fiddy, Sacramento 4

Turnovers Caused

Sacramento caused 2 turnovers

Los Angeles caused 0 turnovers

Leaders in turnovers caused

Potus Obama and Tree Fiddy of Sacramento had 1 each

PLAYER OF THE GAME

After two injury-plagued seasons, fifth-season Los Angeles point guard DR. MARCUS BRODY is once more taking his place among the top players in the MBA. In this important win the 6-2 sharpshooter bagged a game-high 29 points while tying for game-high rebounding honors with 6. He also blocked 1 shot and added 1 assist. His 4 points prevented tied for second most in the game and included the blocked shot that stopped a key Sacramento bucket late in the game. He seized the game offensively from maybe the top defender at his position, Great Gruncle Terry, going 11 for 19 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and fouling Terry out. Brody's previous injuries put him on the sideline for the decisive last time unit, but it was his play that put L.A. in position to win. He came into the game fourth in the league in scoring at 17.5 per game and goes into the break at 19.8, which is currently second.

Other 20-plus GVP performances

-- 11-season veteran forward Pap Smearz of Sacramento played his usual solid game in the loss, scoring 15 points while tying for game-high in rebounds with 6. He also had 2 assists.

-- The other River Dogs forward, Doo-rag Dripp led his team in points scored, racking up 24 big ones while blocking 1 shot and getting 1 rebound. 

NEXT UP: San Jose (2-2), fresh off a 1-point win against Los Angeles, travels to Oklahoma City where they take on a Lariats team (1-3) that bested Milwaukee by a single point to remain relevant for the moment. It's another big game in a season replete with close contests.

Season 47 Featured Game No. 4...Seattle at Sacramento

 Sacramento 80, Seattle 76

Fourth-quarter surge saves River Dogs

SACRAMENTO -- A fourth-quarter surge, precipitated by a switch in guard positions saw the Sacramento River Dogs rally from a 10-point deficit to overcome a stubborn Seattle Stampede team 80-76.

Seattle, shooting the eyes out, led 64-54 going into the fourth quarter, thanks in a big part to point guard Don Barzini finding the open man with his 8 assists. Sacramento coach Frankie Pantangeli switched his two guards, putting ball hawk Potus Obama on Barzini, who did not get another assist. Meanwhile, the home team was scoring 26 points to just 12 for Seattle to pull out the game.

Both teams shot over 60 percent, with the visiting Seattle crew shooting 68.8 percent and Sacramento 63.5 percent.

This is the fourth consecutive barn-burner witnessed on the MBA schedule. 

Sacramento is now 4-0 while Seattle dips to 2-2.

Seattle's defense against the shot was outrageous in this game as attested by the numbers below.

Points Prevented by Quarters

Seattle...........4...8...2...4   Total=18

Sacramento...3...0...2...4   Total=9

Top Players in Points Prevented

1. Willie Carry McCoffee, Seattle...10

2. Reed Lemur, Seattle...4

3. Potus Obama, Sacramento...3

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Veteran Sacramento River Dogs forward PAP SMEARZ was outstanding down the stretch in this comeback win, out-dueling fellow old timer Stu Gatz and ending up with a game-high 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting that included a pair of slams. The 11-season star also led his team with 4 rebounds, was 3 for 3 from the foul line, had 1 steal and 1 assist.

AND

Fourth-year Seattle guard POTATOES O'GRATIN has found a home in the starting lineup for the Stampede. The 6-4 two guard not only led his team in scoring with 14 points, he also pulled down a game-high 7 rebounds, had 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. He was 5 for 8 from the floor and 2 for 5 at the foul line. He came into the game third in the league in 3-point shooting and drained both of his long balls in this game.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- Mr. River Dog, Tree Fiddy, was frustrated by the stalwart defense of Willie Carry McCoffee, but got his offensive game going when McCoffee went out in the third quarter with a long forced rest. Fiddy, second in the league in scoring, ended up with 17 points, adding 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

-- Doo-rag Dripp completes the front line excellence of Sacramento in this game. The veteran small forward scored most of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, grabbed 1 board, had 2 assists and tied for team-high in blocked shots with 2. 

-- Seattle point guard Don Barzini ran the show with aplomb for the Stampede, especially in the first three quarters when he racked up a game-high 8 assists. Barzini scored 11 points and added 1 steal.

WEST DIVISION STANDINGS (unchanged since last bracket)

1st -- Sacramento River Dogs 4-0

2nd --Los Angeles Big One 3-1

3rd -- Seattle Stampede 2-2 (division wins tie-breaker)

4th -- San Jose Fighting Amigos 2-2

Last --Oklahoma City Lariats 1-3

Upcoming bracket (No. 5)

-- Dallas (4-0) at Milwaukee (1-3)...The Greyhounds need to upset the powerhouse Demons or basically kiss another season of playoff hopes good-bye. They were the only team to beat Dallas last season, and it was a Milwaukee home game.

-- The battle of the win-less squads as Philadelphia (0-4) visits Kansas City (0-4). Philly hasn't come closer than 14 points to any opponent while K.C. came within 4, then 3 of Charleston. And they have one of their two career wins against the Phobia.

-- FEATURED GAME: First place in the West is up for grabs just before the All Star Game break as Sacramento takes on Los Angeles in L.A. The Big One is playing like it belongs in the playoffs and is one bucket away from being undefeated. Sacramento had to scramble against Seattle to keep its unblemished record. This could be a good one, especially since L.A. has home court.

-- San Jose at Oklahoma City should be another interesting match. The Fighting Amigos have already matched last season's win total and have shown they can score with the best of them. But the Lariats, currently in last, could easily have the same record as San Jose, having lost in overtime on a buzzer beater to Seattle.

-- The cross-over game in this bracket pits Seattle against the East's second-place team, Charleston (3-1). It's a bigger game at this point for Seattle, because Charleston is two games up on its nearest playoff opponent, which is an underdog in its upcoming game.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Dallas Demons...the closest anyone has come to beating the defending champs is 14.

2. Sacramento River Dogs...sweated out their last win to remain unbeaten.

3. San Jose Fighting Amigos...their losses were by a point to L.A. and to unbeaten Sacramento.

4. Los Angeles Big One...the MBA's surprise team can really impress us with a win against R-Dogs.

5. Charleston Mountaineers...find themselves alone in second, but tough schedule is coming.

6. Milwaukee Greyhounds...despite just one win, still a formidable lineup; and Fatty is looking good.

7. Seattle Stampede...have inserted themselves in the playoff mix despite disjointed lineup.

8. Oklahoma City Lariats...probably not enough firepower or size at guard to return to playoffs again.

9. Kansas City Bastard Angels...a maverick pick, but we'll see how wrong or right we are next game.

10. Philadelphia Phobia...weird having the dynasty franchise out of it so early. Playing for pride.

Season 47 Featured Game No. 3...Los Angeles at Milwaukee

 Los Angeles 76, Milwaukee 54

Big One rolls over Greyhounds

MILWAUKEE -- The surprising Los Angeles Big One rode roughshod over the home team Milwaukee Greyhounds, whipping them from start to finish for a 76-54 cross-over win.

The win makes the Greyhounds 3-0 for the season, joining unbeatens Sacramento and Dallas. The loss puts the Milwaukee team, which seemingly had turned the corner in their last game, at 1-2. 

Milwaukee's guards, the fulcrum of the team, were held without a point until 22 time units into the third quarter when Lannigan Lord Hobo finally scored. Fatty McButterpants of Milwaukee did not score until the fourth quarter. 

The West is now 3-0 in cross-overs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

JONK VANDERDONK, plucked from the cut pile to start for Milwaukee, earned his second Player of the Game honor this season, scoring 21 points, tying for team-high in rebounds with 6 and getting 1 assist while dominating his opposite Sabado Gigante. The 6-10, well-traveled sixth-year man was 9 for 12 from the floor and a perfect 3 for 3 from the foul line. He has put together games of 20, 20 and 21 points to start Season 47.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- L.A. point guard Dr. Marcus Brody had no trouble against Fatty McButterpants. While Fatty was held to 4 points, Brody was putting in a game-high 22, with 3 deep ones. He also pulled down 3 rebounds and added 1 assist.

-- Los Angeles rookie forward Sheetrock Hudson tied for team-high in rebounds with 6 while scoring 11 points, dishing a team-high 3 assists and getting 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.

-- Wardy Joubert III of Milwaukee clashed all game long with Hudson, with the pair each demonstrating somewhat matching abilities. The 6-9 Joubert led his team in scoring with 18 points while skying for a game-high 7 rebounds. He also had a blocked shot. 

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS (no changes since last bracket)

1st--Dallas Demons 3-0

2nd--Charleston Mountaineers 2-1

3rd--Milwaukee Greyhounds 1-2

4th--Kansas City Bastard Angels 0-3 (points differential tie-breaker)

Last--Philadelphia Phobia 0-3

WEST DIVISION STANDINGS

1st--Sacramento River Dogs 3-0 (points differential tie-breaker) (up from 2nd)

2nd--Los Angeles Big One 3-0 (down from 1st)

3rd--Seattle Stampede 2-1 (unchanged)

4th--San Jose Fighting Amigos 1-2 (unchanged)

Last--Oklahoma City Lariats 0-3

UPCOMING BRACKET OF GAMES (NO. 4)

-- Philadelphia at Dallas...second game in a row between these two...Phobia shook before Demons in last encounter, losing 81-56. Dallas looks to stay unbeaten while Philly will likely descend to 0-4.

-- Milwaukee at Oklahoma City features a cross-over of two teams who have already dug themselves into losing seasons, with neither being able to afford yet another loss.

-- Charleston gets to play hapless Kansas City again, this time on the road, and should hang onto its second-place standing for now. But K.C. only lost to the Mountaineers by 4 points the last game.

-- Los Angeles puts its perfect record on the line with a visit to San Jose, where the Fighting Amigos are licking their wounds after getting soundly smacked by Sacramento. The two games between these two clubs should determine the second playoff spot in the West.

-- FEATURED GAME: Seattle at Sacramento will determine if the Stampede are contenders or pretenders for the post season.

Season 47 Featured Game No. 2...Charleston at Dallas

 Dallas 80, Charleston 59 (slaughter rule enacted)

DEMONS DISMANTLE MOUNTAINEERS 

DALLAS -- After a first-quarter in which visiting Charleston used every last drop of their defensive energy, the defending champion Dallas Demons took control of the game and waltzed it home to an 80-59 victory.

Dallas is now 2-0 on the season while Charleston drops to 1-1.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Although he did not have his best shooting day, Hall of Fame Dallas forward CHIP "THE CRIP" BATTOE still led all scorers with a 20-point game on the way to snaring the 9th triple-double of his storied career. Battoe, as usual, dominated Frog Morton of Charleston, sending him to the bench for his ineffectiveness at halftime. The 6-8 Battoe was 9 for 17 from the floor and 2 for 3 from the foul line, pulled down 5 rebounds, had 1 assist and blocked a game-high 5 shots. He finished second in the game in points prevented with 4. This is is second POG this season, tying him with Hunk R. Down of San Jose for tops in that department so far.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- This is the kind of game Louie Subgum can produce when he doesn't foul out. The Dallas point guard scored 17 points, registered a game-high 7 assists, grabbed 2 rebounds and finished second in causing turnovers. He does not play like he's in his 12th season. He dominated Hurricane Furrwizard.

-- Taking over at the shooting guard for retired Bingo Bango seems natural for Dallas' Meat Pants Masterson, who fired up 17 shots on the way to a 16-point game. The 7th-year man also had 2 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 1 assist.

-- Fifth-year behemoth GoToo Grot of Dallas scored 12 points, pulled down 7 boards and had 2 assists in a steady game against Hall of Famer J.J. Gargantuan at center.

-- Dallas forward Tiger Masterson grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds, scored 11 points, had the game's only steal and led everyone in causing turnovers.

-- Charleston shooting guard Cat Timol led the way for Charleston with 19 points, adding 3 steals and 2 blocked shots to his resume in this loss.

-- Charleston's Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan managed 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot.

-- Faku Sosume played an all-around fine game at forward for the Mountaineers, scoring 14 points and pulling down 5 rebounds while blocking a team-high 3 shots and dishing out 2 assists. Additionally, he accounted for a game-high 6 points prevented with those 3 blocks.

Points prevented by quarter

Charleston...13...0...2...0  Total=15

Dallas............4...0...5...0   Total=9

Turnovers caused by quarter

Charleston...0...0...0...0  Total=0

Dallas..........2...1...0...4   Total=7

Points prevented leaders

1. Faku Sosume, Charleston 6

2. Chip Battoe, Dallas 4

2. Frog Morton, Charleston 4

Turnovers caused leaders

1. Tiger Masterson, Dallas 3

2. Louie Subgum, Dallas 3

NEXT UP: Philadelphia (0-1) at Milwaukee (0-1). This is a big meeting of two teams with playoff hopes, with neither looking to go 0-2 to start the season in the always-tough East. 

Featured Game No. 1...Philadelphia at San Jose

 San Jose 92, Philadelphia 78

Amigos unveil fun 'n gun offense

SAN JOSE-- The San Jose Fighting Amigos, turned up the juice with a 3-point barrage and three 20-point scorers as they opened Season 47 with an entertaining 92-78 cross-over win over the visiting Philadelphia Phobia.

  The home team's star rookie guard Jesse Shershot wasted no time ingratiating himself to the expectant San Jose backers, taking exactly one time unit to bury his first 3-point bucket and sending the throng into  an early frenzy.

The Amigos scored 26 in that first quarter on the way to unleashing 17 treys in the game (of which they made 7). Philadelphia hung tough for a while, tying the score at one point in the third quarter with an offensive burst of their own, but San Jose pulled away for good in the fourth with another 25-point period.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

It wasn't either of the high-scoring guards who captured POG in this opener, but 8-season veteran center HUNK R. DOWN of San Jose. The 7-footer missed 60 percent of  Season 46 with an injury, but looked rarin' to go for this campaign as he scored 20 points while registering game-highs in both rebounds with 10 and blocked shots with 3, adding 2 assists. Down looked like a youngster in this one, going 10 for 13 from the floor, with half of his 10 field goals ending in slam dunks.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

-- 6-5 rookie point guard Jesse Shershot of San Jose did not disappoint in his home and MBA debut, scoring a game-high 26 points that included a trio of long bombs while pulling down 3 rebounds.

-- Third-year shooting guard Mister Methane of San Jose, the top scorer for this club the last two seasons, exceeded his new running mate with four 3-pointers on the way to a 20-point game that included 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

-- Philadelphia has a rookie point guard of its own that bears watching in Dick Papers, who scored 17 in his MBA opener, including a trio of drives that ended with the 6-footer skying for dunks. He showed excellent ball skills with a game-high 6 assists and pulled down 2 rebounds and scored 8 consecutive points in the third quarter to temporarily tie the game. Not a bad curtain-raiser for someone replacing Hall of Famer Colquitt Croix.

-- Philly shooting guard Brownie McShytles showed off his excellent mid-range game, tying for team-high in points with 19, while contributing 1 rebound and 1 assist.

-- Phobia center Chutcher Mouthchair opened his sixth season with 10 points, a team-high 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.

-- Also entering his sixth season, defensive Philadelphia wizard Wawa Wewa put together a big offensive game, tying for team-high in points with 19, dishing 4 assists, blocking 1 shot, pulling down 4 boards and snatching away a game-high 2 steals. He dominated Lupalin Greenbeard,

East Division Standings

1st--Dallas 1-0 (points differential tie-breaker)

2nd--Charleston 1-0

3rd--Philadelphia 0-1 (scoring tie-breaker)

4th--Milwaukee 0-1 (points differential tie-breaker)

Last--Kansas City 0-1

West Division Standings

1st--Los Angeles 1-0 (points differential tie-breaker)

2nd--Sacramento 1-0 (division wins tie-breaker)

3rd--San Jose 1-0

4th--Oklahoma City 0-1 (points differential tie-breaker)

Last--Seattle 0-1

NEXT BRACKET OF GAMES (NO. 2)

--Sacramento at Kansas City with the home team Bastard Angels taking their second straight beating

--Seattle at Oklahoma City...the Lariats showed some firepower offensively in first game

--San Jose at Los Angeles...The Big One gets an early upset chance, but without top defender Conquest

--FEATURED GAME: Charleston at Dallas for first place in the East between traditional top of the standings foes

--Philadelphia at Milwaukee...neither of these playoff hopefuls wants to start in an 0-2 hole

Early Power Rankings

1. Dallas

2. Sacramento

3. San Jose

4. Charleston

5. Philadelphia

6. Milwaukee

7. Los Angeles

8. Oklahoma City

9. Seattle

10. Kansas City.