Season 53 Featured Game No. 5...Gillette at Sacramento

 GILLETTE 71, SACRAMENTO 51

HUMPS IN FIRST AT THE BREAK

SACRAMENTO -- The Gillette Humps (now 4-1) put a whoopin' on the Sacramento River Dogs (now 3-2), sweeping the season series and chugging into the halfway house of Season 53 in first place.

The four wins already tie the Gillette record for victories in a season, as the heady Humps held the R-Dogs to the lowest point total of anyone this campaign.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

23 GVP...One of the league's two All-MBA forwards last season, BILLIE "BE-BOP" BAUER likely secured his third All Star Game appearance in a row (in four seasons) with this effort. The 6-7 forward scored 11 points, grabbed 4 boards, assisted 2 times and had 1 steal. His major contribution in this important win was the game-high 5 blocked shots he contributed. He was his usual precise self from the floor, going 5 for 7, including 1 for 2 from deep. This was his first POG of the season.

Other 20-plus GVP performances (none by Sacramento)

22 GVP...Picked up in the cut draft by Gillette prior to the start of this season, veteran guard Ed Balls has proven to be a valuable addition to the team. Coming off the bench in a game in which both Gillette starting guards fouled out, Balls scored a game-high 17 points, came down with 3 rebounds, had 1 steal and 1 assist in the win.

MBA Standings … Season 53

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….5-0

OKLAHOMA CITY…..5-0

PHILADELPHIA………2-2

CHARLESTON………. 1-4

MILWAUKEE……….. 0-5

 

WEST DIVISION

GILLETTE…………. 4-1

SACRAMENTO…3-2

SAN JOSE………….1-3

SEATTLE…………..1-3

LOS ANGELES….. 1-3

 

NEXT UP: Out of the gate slowly for the second straight season, San Jose needs to start winning right now if it wants to make the playoffs in this, Jesse Shershot’s final year in the MBA. They are on the road at Seattle, which has the same record as the Amigos. A loss for either team would seemingly be a post-season death warrant.