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.