Season 48 Featured Game No. 7...Sacramento at Seattle

SACRAMENTO 64, SEATTLE 63

RIVER DOGS WIN DEFENSIVE TUSSLE

SEATTLE -- The top two defensive teams in the MBA knocked heads before a screaming throng of Stampede fans tonight, but for the second game in a row and the second featured game in succession, Seattle came up a point short in a frrustrating 64-63 loss to first-place Sacramento.  It was the second straight loss by the same score for the home team, which just dropped a heart-breaker to Milwaukee the previous evening. A win against Sacramento would have put the Stampede in first.

Sacramento is now 5-1 on a 4-game winning streak, while Seattle, still in second in the West, is 4-3.

Both teams scored liberally in the first quarter, but hunkered down on D as the game progressed. Sacramento, which never led by more than 9 points, was in front by 5 when Potatoes O'Gratin of Seattle potted a medium jumper with 6 ticks left that cut the lead to 3. Don Barzini of Seattle then stole his second pass of the game, resulting in another O'Gratin bucket, a swish from medium with 1 tick left. Sacramento was then able to run out the clock to get the victory. 

The Stampede held Sacramento, which had been averaging 60,6 percent shooting, to 48.1 percent in this one, and out-boarded them 28-13 to keep it close throughout.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Eight-season stalwart forward DOO-RAG DRIPP of Sacramento captured his first POG of the season, becoming the fifth River Dogs starter to earn the honor this season. The 6-7 Dripp, moved to power forward this season with the retirment of Pap Smearz, scored 16 points, blocked a game-high 3 shots, tied for game-high in steals with 2 and tied for team-high in rebounds with 4. Efficient throughout his 8-season career, he was 7 for 9 from the floor, including a big slam, and 2 for 4 at the foul line.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- Sacramento shooting guard Potus Obama, one of the league's top scorers this season, continues to burn the twine. He followed his 25-point game against San Jose with a game-high 20 against Seattle, scoring 18 in the first half. His 18.1 points per game is third-best in the league and is his top scoring campaign (of course, it's his final year). The 7-year vet also pulled down 2 boards and had 1 assist.

-- Another player in his final season is 7-foot center Willie Carry McCoffee of Seattle, who out-played the top GVP man at center this season, Tree Fiddy. After leading his team in scoring with 15 against Milwaukee, Big Willie tied for team-best with 13 points this time out. He also snagged 7 rebounds, dished 3 assists and blocked 1 shot. 

NEXT UP: Gillette hosts San Jose in a battle of the bottom feeders in the West. Both teams are 2-4, but a win for either puts them just one game back of Seattle. It's the first of two straight between the clubs. 

 

Season 48...featured game No. 6...Seattle at Milwaukee

 MILWAUKEE 64, SEATTLE 63

GREYHOUNDS SQUEEZE BY SEATTLE 

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Greyhounds (now 4-2), playing their last game without injured all star center Sabado Gigante, rode their longtime guard tandem of Fatty McButterpants and Lannigan Lord Hobo to a 1-point win over the previously surging Seattle Stampede (now 4-2).

The low-scoring cross-over affair broke the three-game winning streak of visiting Seattle, which had a last-gasp chance to win the game on a missed 3-point attempt by Don Barzini.

With the score tied in the waning moments, league-leading scorer Potatoes O'Gratin of Seattle (who otherwise came up small), connected on a medium jumper with 3 ticks left. Milwaukee's McButterpants then hit a short jumper one time unit later, was fouled and converted to give his team its final margin of victory. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Lacking their No. 1 scoring option in Gigante, Milwaukee needed somebody to step up, and two-time All MBA guard LANNIGAN LORD HOBO did just that. Inexplicably somnabulant for the past season and a half, Hobo reverted to his high-scoring ways with a game-high 26-point explosion. He was 12 for 17 from the floor (1 for 1 from deep) including a slam-dunk put-back, dished 4 assists, grabbed 2 boards, and stole a game-high 2 passes, his first two in two seasons. It was his first POG of the season.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- Veteran Milwaukee point guard Fatty McButterpants was the other star in this win, scoring 13 points, including the winning bucket. Second in the league in assists, he dished a game-high 5 more in this one while adding 2 boards.

-- Retiring 7-foot center Willie Carry McCoffee took full advantage of the absence of Milwaukee's starting pivot by doubling his season scoring average with a 15-point game. The big guy also tied for game-high in rebounds with 7, blocked a game-high 3 shots and dished out 3 assists. 

WEST STANDINGS

1st -- Sacramento River Dogs 5-1 (3-game winning streak)

2nd -- Seattle Stampede 4-2 

3rd -- Los Angeles Big One 3-3 (up from 4th)

4th -- Gillette Humps 2-4 (division wins tie-breaker) (down from 3rd)

Last -- San Jose Fighting Amigos 2-4 (4-game losing streak)

EAST STANDINGS

1st -- Milwaukee Greyhounds 4-2

2nd -- Oklahoma City Lariats 3-3 (division wins tie-breaker) (up from 3rd)

3rd -- Philadelphia Phobia 3-3 (down from 2nd)

4th -- Dallas Demons 2-4 (points differential tie-breaker) 

Last -- Charleston Mountaineers 2-4

My Power Rankings

1. Sacramento

2. Milwaukee

3. Oklahoma City

4. Seattle

5. Philadelphia

6. Dallas

7. San Jose

8. Los Angeles

9. Charleston

10. Gillette

Upcoming bracket of games (No. 7)

-- Featured Game: Seattle jumps right back under the spotlight with another featured event as they host first-place Sacramento, which is currently boasting a plus-23 point differential (more than unbeaten Dallas even had last season). The Stampede can take over first in the West with an upset win, in this first of two meetings with the R-Dogs.

-- San Jose at Gillette...if ever a team needs a break in the schedule it's the reeling Fighting Amigos, and they appear to get one here with the Humps. This is the first of back-to-back games with these two. 

-- Milwaukee at Dallas ... The Demons play the first-place Greyhounds two times in a row and can get back into the playoff mix with a sweep. Milwaukee would be happy with a split.

-- The cross-over in this bracket has Los Angeles at Charleston. The Big One is hot on the heels of Seattle, which it could tie in the wins department with a victory here and a Stampede loss to Sacramento.

-- Another significant East game has Philadelphia at Oklahoma City, with both teams sporting identical 3-3 records in the first of two straight meetings.  

48th All Star Game

 

East 79, West 75

EAST STARS WIN SIXTH IN A ROW

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The East Division All Stars, led by home team favorite Chochky Galumpkus of Oklahoma City down the stretch, captured their sixth consecutive All Star Game with a 79-75 triumph.

The West led at the end of every quarter but the fourth. The East is now 31-17 over the West in these star events.

MVP OF THE ALL STAR GAME

DR. MARCUS BRODY of Los Angeles, who has been by far the best player on his team since the franchise moved from Houston to LaLa Land, closed out his All Star Game career by capturing his first MVP in the contest. Brody, who will be retiring after this season, scored a game-high 22 points and, despite his 6-1 size, led everyone in rebounds with 8. He also tied for game-high in assists with 3 and game-high in steals with 2. He was 8 for 14 from the floor and connected on 4 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line. He added 2 free throws in 2 attempts. This was his fifth ASG and fourth start in his six-season career. He's the first Los Angeles player to win the MVP honor and first for the franchise since Vic Hitler of Houston shared the award with Didger A'doo of Chicago in Season 36.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

-- Second-year Philadelphia point guard Dick Papers, appearing in his first ASG, waged brilliant war with Brody all game. "Little Dickie" tied for team-high in scoring on the victorious East team with 20 points, which included 4 long bombs. He also tied for most assists in the game with 3. 

-- Hometown center Chochky Galumpkus, of Oklahoma City thrilled the locals with a 10-point fourth quarter that included a trio of timely dunks on the way to tying for team high scoring honors with his 20-point effort. The third-year star sat the bench for most of the third in foul trouble, but finished like a dervish with a perfect 10 for 10 from the floor while securing a team-high (tied) 7 rebounds, with 4 coming down the stretch. 

-- Third-year forward Wardy Joubert III is in the midst of his best MBA season and showed he belonged among these stars. The 6-9 Joubert scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, adding a blocked shot in the win in his ASG debut.

-- Sacramento guard Potus Obama, got his first All Star Game start in the third and final ASG appearance of his career. The retiring River Dog contributed 15 points, tied for game-high in steals (his specialty) with 2, dished 2 assists and had 1 rebound. 

LAST 5 ALL START GAMES

Season 47...MVP Chip Battoe, Dallas...East 66, West 60

Season 46...MVP Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia...East 88, West 80

Season 45...MVP Fatty McButterpants, Milwaukee...East 104, West 86

Season 44...MVP Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia...East 95, West 70

Season 43...MVP Naf Naf, Charleston...East 87, West 58

MOST ALL STAR GAME APPEARANCES

11- Max Payne

10- Uncle Bob Masterson

10- Momadou Zongo

9 - Curley Hogbottom

9- J.J. Gargantuan (STILL ACTIVE)

8- Doug Fresh

8- Jonny Cockaroo

8- Ching Chong Chung

8- Tree Fiddy (STILL ACTIVE)

MOST ALL STAR GAME STARTS

9- Curley Hogbottom

8- Momadou Zongo

7- Boone Doggle

7- Uncle Bob Masterson

 Next up: Compilation of ASG stats and then the resumption of Season 48 with following games.

-- Dallas (2-3) at Oklahoma City (2-3)...the Lariats shocked the champs 72-70 right out of the gate.

-- Philadelphia (3-2) at Charleston (1-4)...Philly, behind Dick Papers, won the first one by 8.

-- Los Angeles (2-3) at Gillette (2-3)...The Humps stunned L.A. 72-69 earlier, and just beat Dallas.

-- Sacramento (4-1) at San Jose (2-3)...The reeling Amigos got pounded by 36 last time these met.

-- FEATURED GAME: Dandy cross-over has Seattle (4-1) at first-place Milwaukee (3-2).

Season 48 All Star Game Rosters

 Season 48 All Star Game factoids

— East leads West 30-17 with East having won last 5 games

—10 first-time all stars this season…5 in West (1 starter), 5 in East (3 starters); oldest first-time All Star is 6th season player James “Cherry Challenge” Payne of Sacramento

— 4 all stars will be retiring after this season (1 Hall of Famer)

— 2 Hall of Famers in the game this season

— For the first time in many a moon, two teams fail to place players in the game

—3 rookies made the All Star Game (0 starters); last season 2 rookies, both started

—oldest All Stars…Tree Fiddy and Ape Con Myth, both in 10th season

—most All Star appearances…Tree Fiddy of Sacramento in his 8th game; one of just 9 players to make it that many times; one of 11 players to have made 6 or more starts.

—most All Star Game starts…Chip Battoe of Dallas…6 in 6 games in 6 seasons

—Chip Battoe now has 22 lifetime awards, tying him for fourth-best all time with Uncle Bob Masterson

—teams with most stars…Sacramento and Milwaukee 4 each

—team with most starters…Sacramento…3

—of the 20 players who made the teams last season, only 7 returned for this season’s game

—making the Game gives Tree Fiddy his 10th award and Hall of Fame status; Dr. Marcus Brody now has 9 awards, one short of Hall of Fame status.

—near misses to the team: Jesse Shershot, San Jose (22.2), rookie forward Muscle Shoals, Charleston (20.2).

—All-MBA players from last season who did not make All Star Game this season: Shershot and Doo-rag Dripp of Sacramento (19.6)

 

Retirements Season 48

Season 48 retirement observations

—Dallas, winners of the last 2 championships, got decimated by retirements, with four of five starters hanging it up at the end of this season, including one of the greats of all time, Hall of Fame forward Chip Battoe, currently the fourth-most honored player of all time.

—11 active (and 20 total) players will be hanging it up … 7 of the 11 active are starters

—3 teams totally escaped without any retirements

—4 teams lost zero starters

— 9 players from the cut pile gave up on their MBA aspirations…none retired last season

 

Season 48 Featured Game No. 5...Seattle at San Jose

 SEATTLE 68, SAN JOSE 64

STAMPEDE 'D' COMPLETES BIG SWEEP

SAN JOSE -- Seattle's rugged defense and a second consecutive madman game from Stampede forward Reed Lemur combined for a 68-64 road win to send the Pacific Northwest club into the halftime break with a 3-game winning streak and a 4-1 record.

Most importantly, Seattle, picked to finish third in the West, swept the season series from San Jose, which was unanimously picked to win the division. The Fighting Amigos take their break with a 2-3 mark and a 3-game losing streak.

This was a close one all the way through, and a quick analysis would say that the winnners cemented their triumph at the free throw line, where they outscored San Jose 16-5.

Sixth-man AnDamian Wayne was huge off the bench for Seattle with 14 points, especially with league-leading scorer Potatoes O'Gratin fouling out early in the fourth.

The grind-it-out game is evident in the fact that neither team shot 50 percent.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Looking at the back of his card you would never guess that Seattle forward REED LEMUR had it in him to deliver two death-blow games against a tough division foe. But in a pair of contests against San Jose, the 6-7 Lemur has been a killer and the main reason for victories in both contests. In this game, Lemur tied for game-high in scoring with 21 points, going 8 for 14 from the floor and exploding for 4 powerful slam dunk moves. He was also 5 for 6 from the foul line. He dominated Vito Andolini of San Jose again, this time causing him to foul out with just 5 points. The 5-season veteran asserted himself on the boards as well, grabbing 9 rebounds. He topped things off with 1 assist and 1 blocked shot. San Jose fans officially hate this guy.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

-- Before fouling out with 33 time units remaining in the game (and his team down 63-55), San Jose shooting guard Mister Methane kept his team in contention, tying for game-high in scoring with 21 points, with a trio of treys among them. The fourth-year man added 3 rebounds and a steal.

NEXT UP: Los Angeles (2-2) can insert itself into the thick of the West Division race with an upset road win against first-place Sacramento (3-1). If Dr. Marcus Brody gets hot for The Big One, it can happen; but he'll be going against one of the best defenders in the league in Great Gruncle Terry of the R-Dogs.