SEATTLE 81, CHARLESTON 69
Seattle block party ties series
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Stampede used a 33-point fourth quarter and a record-tying 15 blocked shots on defense to halt a six-game skid and tie up this SemiFinals series one game each, winning at home 81-69.
They trailed at the end of every quarter, by four entering the final stanza, but stayed close with an extraordinary defensive effort that negated 22 points by Charleston, many coming via blocked shots.
A shocking move by Stampede owner Tyler Masterson to insert seldom-used rookie Wolfie Gutenabend into the starting lineup paid top dividends when the 6-3 youngster responded with a game-high 6 blocked shots, negating a game-high 8 points.
Six different Seattle players blocked shots in the win, erasing the playoff record of 14 first established in Season 6.
The Stampede, down 9 at the half, made its comeback when its leading scorer at the time, center Carga Larga, went down with an injury with 53 ticks left in the third quarter and the team trailing 35-26. Rookie back-up center Sky Masterson responded nicely with 12 points the rest of the way. (He also had 9 points in the Semis opener and a game-high 8 boards.)
Tyler will have to roll in the cut pile for a Larga replacement, since his injury is for one game, the deciding contest in this suddenly exciting SemiFinals.
Points prevented by quarters
Charleston...2...6...0...0 Total=8
Seattle.........8...5...3...6 Total=22
Tops in points prevented
1. Wolfie Gutenabend, Seattle...8
2. Cam Caldwell, Seattle...6
3. Don Barzini, Charleston ...4
Despite being hounded by rookie Wolfie Gutenabend of Seattle who was having the defensive game of his life, Charleston shooting guard MISTER METHANE still scored a game-high 18 points to grab back-to-back POGs in this SemiFinals. Methane was 7 for 17 from the field, going 2 for 10 from deep and 2 for 2 from the foul line. Additionally, the 6-2 guard tied for his team's leadership in rebounds with 5, registered 1 steal and had 1 assist.
Other 20-plus GVP performances
-- Seattle point guard Potatoes O'Gratin drilled a trio of treys on the way to a team-high 16 points before fouling out with 4 TUs left in the game. The veteran also had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a blocked shot.
-- The unexpected hero of the game for Seattle was rookie guard Wolfie Gutenabend, who not only shadowed the top scorer for Charleston but did so to the tune of a game-high 6 blocked shots. He erased a pair of 3s by Methane on the way to an 8 points prevented game that topped all defenders. The 6-3 Gutenabend, in his first MBA start, also snatched a game-high 2 steals while pitching in offensively with 14 points and 2 assists.
-- Seattle forward Cam Caldwell had another fine playoff game with 14 points, a game-high 4 assists, 3 blocked shots and 6 points prevented, which were second-best in the contest.
Seattle's 15 blocked shots (6 different players)
6 by Wolfie Gutenabend
3 by Cam Caldwell
2 by Carga Larga
2 by Charles Broccoli
1 by Potatoes O'Gratin
1 by Reed Lemur
The 15 blocks tied Seattle's own All-Time record of 15 that the Stampede set in Season 27 against this same Charleston franchise.
The 15 blocks erases a Playoff record of 14 for one game first set by (get this) Charleston against Seattle in the ancient days....Season 6 SemiFinals.
That playoff mark of 14 was tied by Chip Battoe and the Dallas Demons against Los Angeles in the Season 45 playoffs.
NEXT UP: Philadelphia hopes the prevalent home court advantage of Season 49 continues into its Game 2 against San Jose. The Phobia, facing elimination, hope to defend home turf after getting crushed in the SemiFinals opener by the Fighting Amigos.
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