SACRAMENTO 91, SAN JOSE 82
R-DOGS CONTINUE TO SUPRESS THE WEST
SACRAMENTO--The defending champion Sacramento River Dogs added to their West Division winning streak with a knockabout, boisterous, entertaining 91-82 victory over arch-rival San Jose in a game befitting of the first Featured Game of Season 49.
R-Dog fans howled and barked their way through the high-scoring affair, which saw shockingly welcome performances by new Sacramento heroes, two key injuries (one prolonged) and a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying win. It was the 13th consecutive regular season win against West foes for Sacramento, dating back to Season 47.
The one dark aspect of the game was the early first quarter injury to Sacramento's Hall of Fame center and last season's All-MBA pivot, Tree Fiddy, who was lost for the remainder of the game and the next three, thanks to a recurring hurt. It is the 6th major sidelining of Fiddy's career. He was replaced on the roster by Pat "Bubkis" Moore.
The MBA gods evened things up for Sacramento when San Jose center Sabado Gigante went down for a rest of the game injury halfway through the third quarter. Gigante was the leading scorer and rebounder at that point. Sacramento, the numbers bear out, had the better backup center to fall back on.
The teams combined to make 25 of 26 free throws.
POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
San Jose........6...4...0,,,0...Total=10
Sacramento...4...0...2...0...Total=6
TOP PLAYERS IN POINTS PREVENTED
Wardy Joubert III, Sacramento...4
Lupalin Greenbeard, San Jose.....4
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Two-time All-MBA guard and last season's league-leading scorer JESSE SHERSHOT played most of the game from the two guard position and demonstrated he could put points on the board wherever he plays. Shershot, who did play a fair amount of point guard due to Cremeofsum Yunguy's foul trouble, tied for game-high in scoring with a 25-point outburst. The third-year star was 8 for 14 from the floor and 4 for 10 from beyond the arc. He was 5 for 6 from the foul line and also slammed one home in the fourth quarter. The 6-5 Shershot also pulled down 2 rebounds and added both an assist and a steal.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Sacramento point guard Boney Skelletrino was a last-minute add to the squad in the cut draft, but played like a champ in his River Dogs debut. The former Gillette player actually dominated Cremeofsum Yunguy with a 17-point game that included a trio of 3-pointers and tying for game-high in both steals (2) and assists (4). The 6-2, third-year lefty added 1 rebound and was cheered wildly by the more-than-pleased fans.
-- The stalwart, reliable Doo-rag Dripp of Sacramento was basically the only returning starter in the lineup from last season's championship run, and the 9-season veteran led the way with a game-high (tied) 25-point game. Dripp was marvelous from the small forward spot, just killing Lupalin Greenbeard all game long. He also pulled down 3 rebounds.
-- Fifth-year veteran Buddy Flakes came off the bench for the River Dogs due to constant foul trouble by starting guard Freddy Chepuzzo. The 6-3 Flakes immediately hit his first three shots, including a pair of treys in the first quarter on the way to a stunning 22-point effort that included a third trey. He also had 2 rebounds and an assist. River Dog fans who have always loved the name, now treasure the player.
-- Sacramento's new backup center, Taco Toosdae, acuired in a trade with Milwaukee, was a game-saver with his 12-point effort that included a team-high (tied) 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. He'll be starting the next three games.
-- San Jose's newly acquired starting center (from Milwaukee in a trade) Sabado Gigante was playing a nigh-perfect game, with no shots missed from either the field or the foul line when he was felled by a game-ending injury in the third. The 8 rebounds he accumulated up to that point were still high in the game, and his 18 point-effort included a game-high (tied) 2 steals.
-- San Jose power forward Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer was solid with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
WEST DIVISION STANDINGS
1st -- Seattle 1-0 (points differential tie-breaker)
2nd -- Sacramento 1-0
3rd -- San Jose 0-1 (points differential tie-breaker)
4th -- Gillette 0-1 (points differential tie-breaker)
Last -- Los Angeles 0-1
UPCOMING BRACKET (NO. 2)
-- Featured Game: Philadelphia (1-0) at Charleston (1-0)... Early contest between unbeatens, with Charleston coming off big upset of Milwaukee.
-- Milwaukee (0-1) at Oklahoma City (0-1) ... Both teams were earmarked for the playoffs for the second straight season, but somebody will exit this game with an 0-2 record.
-- Seattle at Sacramento...Two West teams at the top of division standings, both playoff clubs last season. Sacramento favored despite loss of Hall of Fame center Tree Fiddy.
-- San Jose at Dallas (1-0) in a cross-over. Dallas stunned Oklahoma City to start the season, but San Jose is looking to even up its record.
-- Los Angeles at Gillette...L.A. took bad beating in first outing while The Humps showed they could put points on the board in their loss to Philly.
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