Season 48 Regular season standings, awards and stat leaders

 

Season 48 Featured Game No. 10...Seattle at Sacramento...Potus Obama Day

 Sacramento 59, Seattle 49 (Potus Obama Day)

R-DOGS SET RECORD IN SWEEPING WEST

SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento River Dogs finished off their third consecutive 9-1 regular season campaign, sweeping all four West Division foes, by besting the second-place Seattle Stampede 59-49.

The low score reflects the fact that these are the two best defensive teams in the MBA. Seattle finishes the season 5-5 in second and will open the playoffs against the East Division champion Milwaukee Greyhounds, while Sacramento, also the top scoring team in the MBA,  will take on Oklahoma City.

This was the seventh consecutive win for the R-Dogs.

With their third straight 9-1 regular season, Sacramento now holds the distinction of having the best three consecutive regular season campaigns, going 27-3 in the process.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

The big, gangly 7-foot center of the Seattle Stampede, WILLIE CARRY MCCOFFEE, demonstrated the defensive prowess on which he based his entire career by holding the league's third-leading scorer, Hall of Famer Tree Fiddy, to just 8 points. McCoffee, who sets the defensive tone for playoff-bound Seattle, is in his final MBA season. Not only did the big guy shut down Fiddy, he registered the second triple-double of his career in the process, scoring 13 points, grabbing a game-high 7 rebounds and swatting away a game-high 6 shots by opponents. He was 5 for 6 from the floor and 3 for 4 from the foul line, adding 2 assists and a steal.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

-- Beloved Sacramento River Dogs shooting guard Potus Obama scored a game-high 17 points ON HIS DAY, while pulling down a team-best 5 rebounds and tying for game-high in steals by adding 2 more to his league-leading total, now at 15 thefts. That ties his personal best record set last season. He totally shut down the best scorer on Seattle (Potatoes O'Gratin). He added an assist for good measure.

-- Sacramento small forward James "Cherry Challenge" Payne also dominated his man, Reed Lemur, holding him to 7 points while getting 16 of his own. Payne also led his team in blocked shots with 3, grabbed 4 boards, dished 2 assists and added a steal, his 10th, tying him for second place in the league in that department behind Obama.

-- Seattle's fine rookie power forward Charles Broccoli completed his first regular season campaign in fine fashion, leading his team in scoring with 16 points and dominating Doo-rag Dripp of Sacramento. The 6-10 Broccoli also grabbed 4 boards, tied for game-high with 2 steals and had 1 assist.

NEXT UP: Rumor has it there will be a lot of Texans traveling to Philadelphia for the final game of Chip Battoe's career as Dallas (2-7) takes on the Phobia (3-6). It may not mean much, but the Demons have a chance to escape the East Division cellar with a win. Considering they're losing their top two scorers to retirement, delaying the three-last-place-in-a-row dice roll would be a small triumph. Dallas has lost 5 in a row while Philly has dropped its last 4. Someone has to win. Philadelphia edged them 63-62 in the first meeting.

FINAL WEST DIVISION STANDINGS (no changes since last bracket)

1st -- Sacramento River Dogs 9-1 (7-game winning streak)

2nd -- Seattle Stampede 5-5 (division wins tie-breaker) (first playoff appearance in five seasons)

3rd -- San Jose Fighting Amigos 5-5 (points differential tie-breaker)

4th -- Los Angeles Big One 5-5 

Last -- Gillette Humps 2-8 (5-game losing streak to close season)

In case you don't remember, San Jose was picked to finish first, Sacramento second, Seattle third, L.A. fourth and Gillette last.

R-DOG FANS BID OBAMA ADIEU 

 Seven seasons a starter, never missing a game for Sacramento during by far the best stretch in the River Dogs franchise history, shooting guard Potus Obama was honored at halftime by appreciative fans.

  One of the most exciting players in the league, the 6-5 Obama led his team in scoring twice, in free throwing once and in steals five times. Those five steals leaderships, by the way, were also the best mark in the entire league, exceeded in history only by Hall of Famer Lemon Jell-o’s seven.

   He was an important cog in a longstanding River Dogs lineup that captured four division titles, its only championship and made three Finals appearances. Rookie of the Year right out of the gate in Season 42, Obama could do it all…great ballhandler, strong defender and fine rebounder, he eventually paired with Great Gruncle Terry to give the River Dogs the best guard combo in the MBA. Three All Star Game appearances were topped by an All-MBA season in Season 45. He always played even better in the playoffs. Adios, Mr. President.

He was gifted the following at halftime of the game with the following three items, designed to please the palate, keep him in shape during retirement and keep the old boy clean in those hard-to-reach places.

Dinosaur Taco Holders

Finger Weightlifting Kit

Weener Kleener Soap

Season 48 Featured Game No. 9 Sacramento at Dallas...Chip Battoe Day

 

Sacramento 85, Dallas 75 (Chip Battoe Day)

DOGS WIN, BUT BATTOE DAZZLES

DALLAS -- In a disappointing season for the two-time defending champions, the greatest player in Dallas franchise history left a glow on the court in the final home game of the season and of his career.

Despite 34 points from the great Hall of Fame forward Chip "the Crip" Battoe, the Dallas Demons fell for the first time in seven games to the Sacramento River Dogs by an 84-75 score. The Demons can be consoled by the fact that their point total was the most against Sacramento's No. 1 defense this season.

Sacramento, with its 6th consecutive win, is now 8-1 on the season, while Dallas dropped its 5th straight and is 2-7. The crossover win makes it 6-3, West over the East.

All three of the MBA's active Hall of Fame players were showcased in this game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

The multitudes who packed the stadium for CHIP BATTOE ON HIS DAY were not disappointed as the retiring Hall of Famer lived up to his exalted reputation with a spectacular final home game. The 6-8 roundball genius pulled off a POG performance ON HIS DAY that nearly turned into an upset win for the underdog home team. A 14-point third quarter by Battoe in which he scored, rebounded and blocked shots with a frenzy, put his once-buried team within striking distance. Led by Battoe, Dallas continued to charge until they were within a point with 34 ticks left in the game as the Demon fans roared like a mad hoard of devils. But then Sacramento righted the ship and took over down the stretch. When all was said, Battoe had his second POG of the season with a game-high 34 points on 16 of 24 shooting (2 for 4 from the foul line). It was the second-highest point total by an individual this season. Battoe was equally impressive on defense, blocking a game-high 5 shots which ties him for the league lead with teammate Meat Pants Masterson. (He has 5 block titles in 5 seasons). He added another steal (his 10th) to a career-best season total and added a rare assist. It was quite the grand gesture to the Big D faithful.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

-- Sacramento point guard Great Gruncle Terry took his turn dominating Jolly Mon Singh of Dallas, scoring 15 points, dishing out a game-high 6 assists and pulling down 1 board. He is well on his way to repeating his assist crown, which would be his third in five seasons.

-- Terry's R-Dog running mate, Potus Obama, still in the running for All-MBA in his final season, dominated the leading guard candidate Meat Pants Masterson throughout the game. While holding the league's second-best scorer to 4 points, Obama scored 13 of his own, grabbed 4 rebounds, handed out 5 assists and added another steal to his league-leading total, which is now 13. He has won 4 steals titles and the last three in a row.

-- The clash of Hall of Fame centers was brilliantly contentious in this game. Sacramento pivot TREE FIDDY, vying for All-MBA and regular season MVP overcame the stingy defense of J.J. Gargantuan to score a team-high (tied) 17 points, while tying for team-high in blocks with 2, registering a team-high 5 boards and a game-high 2 steals. He added an assist, and plopped a cherry on top with a 3-pointer.

-- Speaking of cherries, Cherry Challenge James Payne balled out big-time against one of the great defenders ever in Battoe. Payne tied for team-high scoring honors with 17 points, tied for team-high in blocks with 2, pulled down 2 rebounds, had 2 assists and 1 steal. Although Battoe scored 34 on him, Payne's tight defense stopped at least four buckets.

-- Dallas Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan showed his 11 seasons worth of experience against his 10th-year opponent with 12 points, tying for game-high in rebounds with 7, blocking 3 shots, handing out 2 assists and 1 steal. It was a clash of the titans.

-- Dallas forward Al A. Orden out-played Doo-rag Dripp in this one, scoring 15 poionts, snagging a game-high (tied) 7 boards and adding 1 assist.

CHIP BATTOE DAY

Dallas fans honored the finest player ever to grace a Big D court, the retiring Hall of Fame forward Chip Battoe. Below are a few of his honors.

    

• — currently tied for fourth all time in honors won in just 6 seasons of play
• — won MVP 5 of 6 seasons…2 playoff MVPs
• — 6 for 6 in all star game appearances…including MVP of game
• —5 All-MBAs in first five seasons with a 6th very possible
• — injury plagued career…suffered hurts three of six seasons
• — except for this final campaign, Dallas had a winning record every season of his career, including back-to-back championships and 4 playoff appearances
• — rookie of the year
• —2nd highest ranked Hall of Fame forward of all time
• — led league in scoring twice, blocked shots 5 times
• — led team in every category except assists and 3-poit shooting
• — one of 6 players to ever win 6 or more All-MBA stars
• —tied with Naf Naf for most overall MVPs with 7
• — has 3 of top 5 scoring season all time for forwards

 The awards given to Chip followed a spin-o-rama random wheel (except for the final which had to be custom-made in advance).  

 1. A Heated Scarf—It’s an electric scarf!

• Has an internal element to keep it warm and toasty.
• With adjustable temperature (60, 50, and 40˚C).
• With an easy on/off switch.
• Connect it to a power bank (not included) for on the go warmth.
• 2. Clarke CWB-R1B Workbench with Pegboard Back Panel & Large Drawer
• 3. A personalized family crest shield…with the following symbols

 

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS (no changes)

1st -- Milwaukee Greyhounds 7-2  (clinched playoffs and division title) (4-game winning streak)

2nd -- Oklahoma City Lariats 6-3 (clinched playoffs) (5-game winning streak)

3rd -- Philadelphia Phobia 3-6 (points differential tie-breaker) (4-game losing streak)

4th -- Charleston Mountaineers 3-6

Last -- Dallas Demons 2-7 (5-game losing streak)

WEST DIVISION STANDINGS (no changes)

1st -- Sacramento River Dogs 8-1 (clinched playoffs and division title) (6-game winning streak)

2nd -- Seattle Stampede 5-4 (division wins tie-breaker) 

3rd -- San Jose Fighting Amigos 5-4 (3-game winning streak)

4th -- Los Angeles Big One 4-5 

Last -- Gillette Humps 2-7 (4-game losing streak)

Final Bracket of Games

-- Gillette at Oklahoma City in a cross-over mismatch.

-- Los Angeles at San Jose in a must-win game for Fighting Amigos on Hunk R. Down Day. Down and company just pounded these guys 94-58.

-- Featured Game: Seattle at Sacramento on Potus Obama Day. If San Jose loses to L.A., Seattle makes the playoffs. But if San Jose beats L.A., the Stampede has to rise to the occassion and upset Sacramento. It's a tall order, but they barely lost to the River Dogs 64-63 in the prior meeting, so it's well within the realm of possibility.

-- Dallas at Philadelphia is the last chance anyone gets to see Chip Battoe on an MBA tabletop. Dallas won the first meeting 63-62 with Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson starring.

-- The regular season concludes with the division champs from Milwaukee visiting Charleston, whom they upended 80-70 previously.

Updated Power Rankings

1. Sacramento

2. Milwaukee

3. Oklahoma City

4. San Jose

5. Seattle

6. Charleston

7. Los Angeles

8. Philadelphia

9. Dallas

10. Gillette

 

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Season 48 down the stretch

 Listing the All-MBA candidates heading into the final two games for each team.

Guards

Lannigan Lord Hobo, Milwaukee…23.2

Meat Pants Masterson, Dallas…26.2

Dick Papers, Philadelphia…25.2

Dr. Marcus Brody, Los Angeles…23.8

Jesse Shershot, San Jose…23.4

Potus Obama, Sacramento…24.3

 

Forwards

Wardy Joubert III, Milwaukee…23.0

Chip Battoe, Dallas…22.7

Frog Morton, Charleston…24.1

Odell Taters, Los Angeles…22.3

Doo-rag Dripp, Sacramento…22.2

 

Centers

Sabado Gigante, Milwaukee…22.7

Tree Fiddy, Sacramento…24.6

 

Top Rookie of the Year Contenders

Handsy Joe Potatoe, guard, Oklahoma City…21.1

Muscle Shoals, forward, Charleston…20.2

Charles Broccoli, forward, Philadelphia…19.3

Juji Mufu, center, Los Angeles…20.1

 

IN THE RUNNING FOR MVP (have to make All-MBA to qualify)

Lannigan Lord Hobo, Milwaukee

Meat Pants Masterson, Dallas

Dick Papers, Philadelphia

Jesse Shershot, San Jose

Potus Obama, Sacramento

Wardy Joubert III, Milwaukee

Doo-Rag Dripp, Sacramento

Sabado Gigante, Milwaukee

Tree Fiddy, Sacramento

 

REMAINING SCHEDULE FOR CONTENDERS (Oklahoma City, Milwaukee and Sacramento already cliched spots)

Los Angeles 4-4, 2 division wins…2 games vs. San Jose

Seattle 4-4, 4 division wnis…Gillette, then Sacramento

San Jose 4-4, 2 division wins …2 games vs. Los Angeles

 

SCORING CROWN RACE

Papers, Philadelphia…18.8

M.P. Masterson, Dallas…18.6

Shershot, San Jose…18.5

Fiddy, Sacramento …17.4

O’Gratin, Seattle…17.0

REBOUNDING CROWN RACE

Galumpkus, Oklahoma City... 6.4 (won it last season)

Myth, Milwaukee...5.8

McCoffee, Seattle...5.8

Yashu, Philadelphia...5.8

Down, San Jose...5.8

ASSISTS CROWN RACE

Terry, Sacramento...5.5 (won it last season, won 2 of last 3)

McButterpants, Milwaukee...5.1

Barzini, Seattle...5.0

3-POINT SHOOTING CROWN RACE

O'Gratin, Seattle...84.6%...11 made (won it last season)

Brody, Los Angeles...61.9%...26 made

Papers, Philadelphia...50%...16 made

STEALS CROWN RACE

Obama, Sacramento...12 (won last 3 seasons, 4 of last 5)

Battoe, Dallas...9

J. Payne, Sacramento...8

BLOCKED SHOTS CROWN RACE

M.P Masterson, Dallas...19

Yashu, Philadelphia...18

Battoe, Dallas...17 (winner of last 5)

FREE THROWING CROWN RACE

Dee, Philadelphia...100%...11 made

Lemur, Seattle...88%...22 made

Battoe, Dallas...90.5%...19 made

 

Season 48 Featured Game No. 8 Sacramento at Los Angeles

 R-DOGS CLINCH ANOTHER WEST CROWN

LOS ANGELES -- The Sacramento River Dogs, looking like the class of Season 48, took over early and breezed to a 79-53 road win over the Los Angeles Big One. The league's top defense held The Big One to 39.7 percent shooting. The win clinched a third consecutive West Division first-place finish and the fourth in five seasons and kept the team winning streak alive at five. 

Sacramento is now 7-1 while Los Angeles drops to 4-4 and is still in the playoff mix. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Sacramento's Hall of Fame center TREE FIDDY entered the game as the leader in the All-MBA center race and did himself no harm with the beating he put on rookie Juji Mufu of Los Angeles. The 10-year star was high scorer in the game with 24 points on 10 of 14 from the field (1 of 3 from deep) and 3 of 4 from the foul stripe. He hit a 3-pointer on the first time unit of the game, was fouled and completed the free throw as a hint as to what was to follow. The 6-8 Fiddy pulled down 4 boards led everyone with 3 blocked shots, had 1 steal and 1 assist. He is the current leader in the MVP race.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

-- Steady Sacramento forward Doo-rag Dripp had an efficient 16-point, 5-rebound game that included 2 assists, 1 blocked shot and 1 steal.

-- Despite being guarded by the nettlesome defense of Great Gruncle Terry, Los Angeles point guard Dr. Marcus Brody still managed to tie for team-high in scoring with 12 points while hitting the boards hard for a game-high 7 rebounds, The pride of L.A. added 1 blocked shot and 1 assist.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Sacramento....5...0...8...2 Total=15

Los Angeles...0...4...0...4 Total=8

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Great Gruncle Terry, Sacramento 5

4 others tied with 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTER

Sacramento 1...1...3...1 Total=6

Los Angeles 0...1...0...0 Total=1

LEADERS IN CAUSING TURNOVERS

1. Potus Obama, Sacramento 2

1. James Payne, Sacramento 2

WEST DIVISION STANDINGS

1st -- Sacramento 7-1 (clinched playoffs and division title) (5-game winning streak)

2nd -- Seattle 4-4 (division wins tie-breaker) (3-game losing streak)

3rd -- San Jose 4-4 (up from 4th)

4th -- Los Angeles 4-4 (down from 3rd)

Last -- Gillette 2-6 (3-game losing streak)

UPCOMING BRACKET (NO. 9)

-- Charleston (3-5) at Oklahoma City (5-3) Lariats chasing Milwaukee, but Greyhounds swept them.

-- Philadelphia (3-5) at Milwaukee (6-2) A win here clinches division title for Greyhounds.

-- Seattle at Gillette...Stampede needs this since they play Sacramento in final game.

-- San Jose at Los Angeles...first of two in a row; someone will likely need to sweep to make playoffs.

-- FEATURED GAME: Cross-over is Chip Battoe Day as Dallas hosts Sacramento.