Season 53 Finals...Game 2...Dallas at Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY 86, DALLAS 72 (Series tied 1-1)

LARIATS GET EVEN

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Playing before a hyped up home crowd that had not seen a Finals game in seven seasons, the Oklahoma City Lariats roped, flipped and hog-tied the seemingly invincible Dallas Demons 86-72 to even this Finals series at one game each.

Oklahoma City got off to a smoking hot start, scoring 29 points in the first quarter to take a 12-point lead that they never gave up. Shooting 61.9 percent for the game, they led by 10 with 17 ticks remaining in the first quarter, then continued to up that advantage to as much as 25 points in the third quarter. 

The Lariats scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter, but it was more than enough to coast home with the triumph. The win put an end to the Demons' four-game winning streak.

Despite losing by 14, Dallas still shot a more-than-respectable 60 percent as a team.

Oklahoma City controlled the boards in this win, 21-11.

These two Finals teams have now split the four games they have played in Season 53. The Whiz Kids are still the favorites, but the championship round just got a hell of a lot more interesting. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

28 GVP...Although his team came up on the short end of things, Dallas shooting guard JUZAN DJINN was the POG for the second time in as many Finals games. Djinn again led both clubs in scoring, putting up a 21-point effort in chich he was 8 for 13 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep) and 4 of 5 from the foul line. The stalwart defender again led in blocked shots with 6, adding 1 rebound for good measure. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Lariat's rookie power forward Phillip Mianus dominated Al A. Orden for the second game in a row, holding the Dallas veteran to just 4 points while scoring 17 himself. Mianus tied for team-high in blocked shots with 3, grabbed 5 boards and assisted 2 times.

25 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines led the way in scoring for the Lariats with 20 points while tying for team-high in assists with 3. He added 2 rebounds.

24 GVP...The big 7-footer for Dallas, second-year man Biggus Dickus, had a fine offensive game with 18 poiints. He also grabbed 3 boards, blocked 1 shot, assisted 1 time and registered 1 steal.

23 GVP...His performance, good or bad, is a bit of a bellweather for the Lariats against a quality team like Dallas.  And six-year man Handsy Joe Potatoe, playing under control, scored 16 points despite the defense of Juzan Djinn, tied for team-high in assists with 3, grabbed 3 rebounds and blocked 1 shot. 

23 GVP...Dallas' All-MBA point guard Kopi Luwak splashed home five 3-pointers on the way to a 19-point game. He also contributed 3 assists and 1 rebound. 

21 GVP...Oklahoma City's 7-1 center Chochky Galumpkus gathered in a game-high 7 rebnounds, tied for team-high in blocked shots with 3, scored 10 points and had 1 assist in this major triumph. 

NEXT UP: Back to Dallas with the Finals series tied at one game each.

 

Season 53 Finals...Game 1...Oklahoma City at Dallas

GAME 1...DALLAS 82, OKLAHOMA CITY 76

DEMONS OUTLAST LARIATS 

DALLAS -- The defending champion Dallas Demons, behind a combined 52 points from its All-MBA guard combo, held off a plucky effort by the visiting Oklahoma City Lariats to win Game 1 of the Season 53 Finals 82-76.

The first Finals meeting between these two longtime members of the MBA was a close and spirited affair, which will now go back to Oklahoma City, where the Lariats hope to even things up in this best of five championship series.

Tempers were short in this one right from the start. Oklahoma City coach Grady Booch was hit with a technical foul early in the first quarter when he thought his center Chochky Galumpkus was manhandled by center Biggus Dickus of Dallas. Then, just after the horn went off to end the third quarter, Toilety T. Paper of Oklahoma City attempted to wipe the floor with Dickus, resulting in technical fouls for both players.

Dallas led 54-52 heading into a high-octane fourth quarter, kicking their impressive offense into gear, scoring 28 points. Oklahoma City gave a good account of itself as well, scoring 24. The biggest buckets by Dallas at crunch time came on back-to-back possessions, each overcoming defensive blocks by Oklahoma City. First was a slam dunk by league MVP Pete Marzano over the block of Buba Lipa, followed by a long 3-point swish by Juzan Djinn over the block of Handsy Joe Potatoe. 

The Lariats fired up an astonishing 68 shots, staying in the contest via a sheer number of attempts, as their shooting percentage was just 48.5.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

40 GVP...Last season's Playoff MVP JUZANN DJINN of Dallas is looking to repeat that title again. He came into the Finals as the top scorer, averaging 20.5 per game and proceeded to destroy the hopes of a Lariats' upset with a 30-point performance. The fourth-year star thwarted shot after shot by his man, Handsy Joe Potatoe, ending with a game-high 5 blocked shots. The 6-2 guard added 3 rebounds and 2 assists, going 11 for 16 from the floor and potting 3 of 5 long-range treys. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Djinn's All-MBA running mate, Kopi Luwak was second in the game in scoring with a 22-point effort that included a trio of treys. The second-year, 6-2  guard also tied for game-high in rebounds with 6 and assisted 2 times. 

27 GVP...Second-year All-MBA forward Pete Marzano dominated his man Buba Lipa, scoring 15 po9ints, blocking 4 shots, tying for game-high in rebounds with 6, assisting 1 and stealing 1. 

27 GVP...Despite sitting for 49 time units in the third quarter from a forced rest, Oklahoma City rookie forward Phillip Mianus put together some fine stats, scoring a team-high 21 points, blocking a team-high 3 shots, grabbing 2 boards and handing out 1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas' 7-foot center Biggus Dickus continues to contribute mightily to Demons victories. In this one he used his fine passing skills to hand out a game-high 5 assists. He scored 11 points, grabbed 3 boards and blocked 2 shots.

21 GVP...Oklahoma City's excellent point guard King Czardines scored 13 points, passed out a team-high 4 assists, grabbed 3 rebounds and added 1 steal in the loss. 

 

Season 53 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 2...Gillette at Oklahoma City

 OKLAHOMA CITY 90, GILLETTE 62

LARIATS TO FINALS IN STYLE

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With its fans shouting "We want Dallas!" as early as the third quarter, the Oklahoma City Lariats destroyed the Gillette Humps 90-62 and will now face the Whiz Kids of Dallas in the Season 53 Finals. 

This marks the first time the Lariats have made it to the Finals since they completed back-to-back championships in Seasons 40 and 41 twelve seasons ago. It's also the first time they have made it to the Finals since moving from the West Divsion to the East Division in Season 48.

This marks the second year in a row the Finals will feature two teams from the East. 

It will also be the first time in MBA history that Dallas and Oklahoma City will square off for the MBA championship.

The teams met twice during the regular season, each winning once. Dallas pounded the Lariats 100-68 behind the POG of Juzan Djinn; the only 100-point game of the regular season. But Oklahoma City turned around and dealt the Demons one of its two regular season losses, nipping them 63-62 as co-POGs King Czardines of Oklahoma City and Kopi Luwak of Dallas powered their respective clubs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...Earning his second POG of the playoffs in as many games, Oklahoma City point guard KING CZARDINES registered a game-high 25 points in this Semis clincher, going 10 for 15 from the floor, including dropping in 4 bombs in 6 attempts. He was also 1 for 2 at the foul line, assisted 2 times and came up with 1 steal. The fourth-year guard will again go up against All-MBA, league-leading scorer Kopi Luwak in the upcoming finals which should be a doozy of a duel.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Nearly matching Czardines point for point, Gillette's second-year point guard Joey "Joe-Joe" Shamadu, Jr. was brilliant in defeat, leading his team in scoring with 21 points, hitting on 5 of 9 shots from beyond the arc. He added 1 rebound and 1 assist.

22 GVP...Oklahoma City's rookie power forward Phillip Mianus demonstrated why he led the league in blocked shots, swatting away a game-high 5 Gillette attempts while scoring 14 poinits. He added 2 rebounds and 1 steal.

22 GVP...The other Lariats' forward, Buba Lipa, contributed 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist to the winning effort.

20 GVP...Billy "Be-bop" Bauer of Gillette pulled down a game-high 6 rebounds from his forward position, blocked a team-high 4 shots and scored 10 points.

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City travels to Dallas for Game 1 of the Season 53 MBA Finals, where the defending champion Demons are the decided favorites to repeat.

Season 53...Playoff Semifinals Game 2...Dallas at Seattle

 

DALLAS 89, SEATTLE 59

DEMONS HEAD TO FINALS

SEATTLE -- The defending champion Dallas Demons out-scored the Seattle Stampede 46-21 in the second half on the way to an easy, breezy 89-59 triumph, earning them a return trip to the MBA Finals.

Seattle, which shot a paltry 42.9 percent from the floor, thanks in large part to Dallas defense, was down by just 5 points at the half before the Demons put their game into another gear.

The Demons shot over 60 percent for the second game in a row, following a 63.3 effort with a 63.9 percent mark in this victory.

They now await the winner of the Oklahoma City vs. Gillette series to play for the championship.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

37 GVP -- League MVP during the regular season, second-year Dallas forward PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO put himself out there for the double-distinction Playoff MVP honor with this gem. The 6-8 Marzano absolutely destroyed his man, Doodly Squat, holding the top scorer of Seattle to just 8 points while tying for game-high scoring honors himself. Marzano scored 22 points on 10 of 12 shooting hitting from medium, short and low with equal aplomb. He added a couple of dunks and was 2 of 3 from the foul line. Additionally, the All-MBA forward pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds, tied for game-high with 3 blocked shots, handed out 3 assists and registered 1 steal. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

32 GVP...Dallas superstar Juzan Djinn followed his Game 1 19-point effort with a game-high (tied) 22 points in this one, dominating Fuck Mountain in the process. The 6-2 shooting guard held Mountain to 5 measely points, grabbed 6 boards, tied for most blocked shots in the contest with 3 and assisted 1 time. 

24 GVP...Seattle power forward Frog Morton led his team in scoring in both playoff games, getting a team-high 17 in this one while grabbing 5 boards and handing out 2 assists.

23 GVP...The MBA's top scorer, Kopi Luwak of Dallas finished with 17 points in both playoff wins, draining 3 treys in this SemiFinals clincher. He led his team with 4 assists and pulled down 2 rebounds.

21 GVP...Seattle stalwart Sky Masterson managed 13 points and led his team with 7 caroms, adding 1 assist.

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City, playing at home, looks to dispose of Gillette and join Dallas for a predicted Finals appearance.

Below is the outstanding new MBA surface designed for tabletop play by Tyler Masterson and gifted to Dave Masterson for Christmas. Used for this game for the first time. The cubes of chance roll like a dream on this.

Season 53 Playoffs....Semifinals Game 1...Oklahoma City at Gillette

 OKLAHOMA CITY 74, GILLETTE 73

LARIATS BARELY GET OVER THE HUMPS

GILLETTE -- The first playoff game in Gillette Humps history was a stimulating thriller that ended with a gut-wrenching 74-73 loss before the hometown faithful.

Trailing by six early in the fourth quarter, Gillette took a two-point lead briefly down the stretch, before twice giving up the lead and then tying things up again.

They still had a chance in the waning moments when Mortimer Masterson of Oklahoma City missed a medium jumper, but the Lariats' Handsy Joe Potatoe grabbed the key offensive rebound. His shot with a time unit left was blocked by Lefty Scavenger of Gillette. A lucky fast break bucket could have won the game for the Humps, but it did not materialize.

The closeness of the contest was reminiscent of the double overtime gave between these two during the regular season, won by Gillette.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

28 GVP...Team MVP and second team All-MBA point guard KING CZARDINES of Oklahoma City captured POG honors with a 20-point performance that tied for game-high in the Lariats' win. The fourth-year star delivered two big treys in the fourth quarter, going 9 for 17 overall and 2 for 3 from deep. The league leader in assists dropped a team-high 5 dimes, stole 1 pass and grabbed a pair of rebounds in this, his first playoff game.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

27 GVP...The Lariats' rookie power forward Phillip Mianus stuck it to his opposite, Billy Bauer, scoring 19 points to just 2 for Bauer. The 6-8 Mianus added 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 assist and 1 steal to his clutch ledger.

27 GVP...Rookie of the Year and All-MBA center Blob Dylan of Gillette was outstanding in defeat, tying for game-high scoring honors with 20 points, blocking a game-high 3 shots and tying for team-high in rebounds with 4. 

25 GVP...Second-year Gillette point guard Joey "Joe-Joe" Shamadu scored most of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, keeping Humps fans on their camel toes. Runner-up in assists to Czardines this season, Shamadu handed out 5 helpers in this one while also pulling down 2 rebounds.

24 GVP...Gillette got a great game out of small forward LaJon Brames, who dominated his man Buba Lipa. Brames scored 14 points, tied for team-best with 4 rebounds, dished 4 assists, stole 1 and blocked 1 shot. 

22 GVP...Gillette guard Lefty Scavenger handed out a game-high 6 assists, scored 12 points, grabbed 2 boards, blocked 1 shot and stole 1. 

20 GVP...Two-time All-MBA center Chochky Galumpkus of Oklahoma City waged war all game with standout rookie Dylan, and acquitted himself nicely in the process. The 7-1, 8-season veteran grabbed a game-high 7 rebounds, scored 12 points and blocked 1 shot in the important win.

NEXT UP: Dallas travels to the great Northwest to off the Seattle Stampede.

Season 53 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 1 Seattle at Dallas

DALLAS 90, SEATTLE 75

WHIZ KIDS BEGIN TITLE DEFENSE WITH EASE

DALLAS -- The defending champion Dallas Demons toyed with the visiting Seattle Stampede before putting them away in the first game of the Season 53 playoffs, 90-75.

Seattle was competitive in the first half, trailing only by 7, 44-37 before the home team's dominance took hold in the third quarter. Led by All-MBA guard Juzan Djinn and center Biggus Dickus, Dallas out-scored Seattle 28-15 in that frame and was never seriously headed.

The fourth quarter was played only to see if the slaughter rule would be enforced, and to their credit, the Stampede was able to keep that embarassment at bay. 

The final score was eerily reminiscent of Game 1 of Season 53 in the regular season, won by Dallas 92-78.

This playoff contest was gallant try by Seattle, which will likely be eliminated in the next game before their home fans.

Veteran Dallas forward Al A. Orden comes off the injured list for Dallas and will start the next game in place of Philibuck Davia.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

27 GVP...Although thwarted in scoring attempts numerous times by Sky Masterson of Seattle, the 7-foot BIGGUS DICKUS of Dallas used his 4-inch height advantage to score 18 points on 9 of 17 shooting while leading his team in rebounds with 6. The second-year rim protector added 1 blocked shot, 1 steal and 1 assist to his solid playoff effort.

AND

27 GVP...10-year Seattle veteran FROG MORTON demonstrated his vast playoff experience with a game-high 22-point performance from his power forward position. The 6-9 Morton, who came to Seattle in a trade from Charleston, was 10 for 12 from the floor and 2 for 3 from the foul line. He added 4 boards and 1 assist in the losing effort.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...The MBA's leading scorer, Kopi Luwak, rippled the cords for 17 points, bombing away 5 triples in 9 attempts in his 6 for 12 shooting day. The Dallas point guard led everyone in assists with 5 and pulled down 4 rebounds.

24 GVP...Defending playoff MVP Juzan Djinn led his team's balanced scoring attack with 19 points, going 7 for 10 from the floor. The MBA's leading free thrower was also perfect at the charity stripe with a 5 for 5 day, pulled down 4 rebounds and blocked 1 shot. 

24 GVP...Battling like hell against the hulking opponent that was Dickus, Seattle center Sky Masterson pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds, scored 12 poionts, tied for game-high in blocked shots with 2, added 1 assist and 1 steal. 

23 GVP...Seattle's 5-11 rookie point guard Bellybutton Inquisition matched his regular season outing against Dallas, scoring 18 points. He led his team with 3 assists and added 2 rebounds. 

20 GVP...Little 5-9 lefty Fuck Mountain of Seattle managed to score 13 points against top defender Djinn, including a trio of treys. He swiped a game-high 2 steals, tied for game-high with 2 blocked shots, grabbed 2 boards and had 1 assist. 

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City at Gillette, with the Humps hosting the first playoff contest of their existence. 

 

Season 53...quick playoff preview

SEMIFINALS...BEST OF 3 

Seattle (5-5) vs. Dallas (8-2)

These two teams played the first game of Season 53, with the Demons winning 92-78, Biggus Dickus was POG.

No 5-5 team has ever won an MBA title.

Dallas is the overwhelming favorite to win this series and to take it all, repeating as champions.

The Demons have the league MVP in forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano as well as two other All-MBA first-teamers (just the fifth time three from one team have made it). The others, who finished second and third in the MVP race are the magnificent guard combo of Juzan Djinn and Kopi Luwak, the latter being the league's top scorer. Those three also finished one-two-three in individual scoring in the league. Djinn led the league in free throw shooting as well.

Dallas led the league in:

offense, averaging 83.2 points per game

shooting percentage...61.3 percent

points differential...+ 13.5 per game

Seattle, led by veteran center Sky Masterson, started the season 0-3 but finished in a rush to make the playoffs. 

Oklahoma City (7-3) vs. Gillette (6-4)

The Lariats are favored, although an upset by the Humps is not impossible.

The two teams met once in the regular season in a game that went to double-overtime before Gillette won 85-81. Billy "Be-bop" Bauer was the POG for Gillette.

Oklahoma City led the league in blocked shots, thanks mainly to rookie forward Phillip Mianus, who led the circuit with 33.

The Lariats also feature the league's top assist man, King Czardines and veteran center Chochky Galumpkus, who posted the top scoring game this season, a 35-point effort vs. San Jose. 

Gillette was the MBA's top 3-point shooting team, hitting at a 43.1 percent rate, with 47 bombs made.

NEXT: The opener...Seattle at Dallas

Season 53 Featured Game No. 10...Sacramento at Seattle

SEATTLE 68, SACRAMENTO 65

STAMPEDE EDGES R-DOGS FOR PLAYOFFS

SEATTLE -- Playing a second barn-burner against the visiting River Dogs from Sacramento, the Seattle Stampede successfully completed its unlikely playoff run before a raucous, fish-throwing home crowd, coming out on top 68-65.

The win gives Seattle a final record of 5-5; identical to the records of Sacramento and San Jose, but the Stampede registered 5 division wins to 4 by the River Dogs and Fighting Amigos.

This victory gave Seattle a 4-1 record in the second half of the season following an 0-3 start to the campaign.

The win over Sacramento was largely due to the R-Dogs' inability to withstand the defensive pressure of Seattle, which came up with 9 steals in the game and limited the losing team to just 45 shots. 

Seattle's last three buckets all came from veteran center Sky Masterson. Sacramento had a 3-point attempt on the final time unit that could have tied the game, but the shot was no good by Karma Chameleon and blocked for good measure by Fuck Mountain.

The Stampede return to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons and face the dubious task of bucking heads with mighty Dallas in the SemiFinals.

Game note: Sacramento guard Flip Phelps suffered a season injury early in the second quarter, but as it turned out his season only consisted of the rest of the game.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

28 GVP...He's led them in scoring all season long, and in this playoff-clinching win, fourth-year small forward DOODLY SQUAT came through again with a team-high 21 points, dominating Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist in the process. Squat, who finished with a 15.7 ppg scoring average on the year, was 10 for 15 from the field in this game (1 for 2 from the foul line), while pulling down 4 rebounds, swiping 2 steals  and blocking 1 shot. This was his first POG of the season.

AND

28 GVP...Sacramento's rookie shooting guard KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA CHAMELEON also registered his first POG with an outing that included a game-high 24 points on 7 of 12 shooting (including 2 for 4 from deep and 8 for 11  from the foul line). The 6-4 Chameleon dominated Fuck Mountain throughout, adding 3 rebounds and 1 assist. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...10-year Seattle forward Frog Morton topped everybody in blocked shots with 4 and in steals with 3 while tying for game-high in assists with 3, scoring 11 points and pulling down 5 boards. He dominated Kevin Duran-Duran.

25 GVP...Old reliable, Seattle center Sky Masterson, also dominated his man, Sacramento's China P. The 6-8 Masterson, chasing his second rebounding title, swallowed up a game-high 10 caroms in the win, giving him a career-best 6.9 per contest...currently second to Sheetrock Hudson's 7.2 average. Masterson scored the final three buckets of the game for Seattle to finish with 12 points. He added 2 assists and 1 blocked shot.

MBA Standings … Season 53

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..6-3

PHILADELPHIA………5-4

CHARLESTON………. 4-5 

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-7

 

WEST DIVISION

GILLETTE…………. 6-4 (clinched playoffs)

SEATTLE…………..5-5 (clinched playoffs)

SACRAMENTO…5-5

SAN JOSE………….5-5

LOS ANGELES….. 2-7

 

NEXT UP: Charleston at Philadelphia…The Phobia needs this win to stay alive for the second playoff spot in the East. They are currently one game behind Oklahoma City, who plays Milwaukee in their final game. Don’t think Charleston will be easy for Philly. The Mountaineers just got done giving Dallas their second loss of the season. In the first meeting between Philly and Charleston, the Phobia escaped with a 71-69 victory.