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.