Season 55 Playoffs...Finals Game 2...Dallas at Charleston

DALLAS 82, CHARLESTON 67

CHARLESTON NOT SLAUGHTERED

CHARLESTON -- The Dallas Demons, perhaps bored by the ease in which they were killing an undermanned Charleston squad, turned in their first non-slaughter rule win in these playoffs, still gliding to a comfortable 82-67 win.

The three-time defending champs are now just one victory away from capturing their fourth consecutive title. They have now won 12 games in a row and have been victorious in 29 of their last 30 games.

This latest win looked like another blowout, with Dallas jumping out to a 14-0 run to start things out. The barrage continued into the third quarter, where the Demons, controlling the backboards like they owned them, led by as much as 30 points.

But in the fourth quarter, Charleston pride kicked in, and led by two-time All-MBA forward Piping Plover, the Mountaineers kind of made a sort of game of it, reducing the deficit all the way down to 12 points with 19 ticks left before the big bad boys from D Town finally brought home the 15-point victory. 

The Charleston fans, witnessing their first Finals home game in 10 seasons, never left their seats...standing and roaring as their Don Quixote team tilted at the monstrous windmill. Perhaps with the return to the lineup of Kopi Luwak in Game 3, the Mountaineers can make the Demons sweat a little more as Dallas moves unrelentingly toward another crown. 

Would a Charleston road win be asking too much? Probably.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Two-time All-MBA forward PIPING PLOVER of Charleston showed why he has earned two foil stars in the past two seasons, putting together a game-high 28-point performance in the face of one of the MBA's top defenders, Pete Marzano. With Charleston missing two of its top scorers, the team leaned heavily on the 6-7, third-year man who delivered 12 buckets on 19 shots, including a trey in his lone attempt from beyond the arc. He also slammed one home, added 3 for 3 from the foul line to make him 12 for 12 in the post-season, tied for game-high with 2 steals and grabbed 1 rebound. "The Rare Bird" is now averaging 19.3 ppg in the playoffs. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...18 points...9 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot. 

25 GVP...League MVP and Hall of Fame shooting guard Juzan Djinn...17 points...3 blocks...2 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

Points Prevented By quarters

Dallas...2...5...3...6  Total=16

Charl....3...1...3...6   Total=13

Tops in Points Prevented

1. Marzano, Dallas...7

2. Dickus, Dallas......6

3. Numdrum, Charleston...5

NEXT UP: The Dallas Demons return home just one win away from their 9th franchise championship and fourth in a row. This would be the sixth Dallas title in the past 10 seasons; a decade of dominance matched only by the Philadelphia super teams of Seasons 14 to 24, who delivered 7 in 11 campaigns.

 

Season 55 Playoffs...Finals Game 1...Charleston at Dallas

DALLAS 96, CHARLESTON 58 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

OH, THE HUMANITY

DALLAS -- The execution of the Charleston Mountaineers in this Season 55 Finals took one game as the three time-defending champion Dallas Demons rained down a bloodbath on the visitors in the Series opener, dominating with a 96-58 victory.

That makes three Slaughter Rule victories in three playoff games for the Demons this post-season.

A 24-8 second-quarter blitz by Dallas broke things wide open for the Demons who were never challenged thereafter. They led by 18 at the half, which happened to be the number of points accumulated to that point by last season's playoff MVP, Vicious Hick of the victors. 

Things got worse, as Charleston's main offensive threat, Kopi Luwak, became the second Mountaineers starter to be lost to injury. He was hurt halfway through the third quarter for the rest of the game and all of the next game, joining starting center Johnny Bananas in street clothes. 

The 38-point win was still well short of the 42-point victory playoff record set in Season 52 by Dallas over Milwaukee in the Finals. 

With the cut pile for guards at slim pickings, Charleston recruited third-year turd Swifty Twitch to replace Luwak on the roster for the next game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

44 GVP...Making his bid for a second consecutive Playoff MVP award, second-year Dallas point guard VICIOUS HICK was a bombadier personified in this win, dropping in 7 long ones in 9 attempts on the way to a game-high 32 points. Let's be clear...there is nobody at the guard position on Charleston who can guard Hick when he sets up shop behind the arc. The 6-2 Hick notched the third triple-double of his career by adding a game-high 7 assists and pulling down 5 rebounds. Together with fellow guard Juzan Djinn, the Dallas guard tandem had as many rebounds as the entire Charleston team. Hick sank 12 of his 15 shots and was 1 for 1 from the foul line. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Hall of Fame Dallas shooting guard and MBA MVP Juzan Djinn...16 points...6 rebounds...2 assists...2 blocked shots...1 steal.

25 GVP...Charleston rookie power forward Nick Kenpoop...17 points...4 rebounds...4 assists.

23 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...16 points...4 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...16 points...4 rebounds.

NEXT UP: The teams travel to Charleston for what will be the only home game for Mountaineer fans. With two Charleston starters out, this is no longer a remotely competitive championship series. 

MOST PLAYOFF MVPS

3...Cappy Gambol

3...Stu Nod

2...Chip Battoe

2...Dan Mann

2...Curly Hogbottom

2...Saggital Occlusal

2...Jonny Cockaroo

2...Boone Doggle

2...Hrundi V. Bakshi

2...Cock A. Doodledoo

2...Beezow Bop-Bop

2...Diss Reflexia

2...Juzan Djinn (active

 

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 2...Dallas at San Jose

DALLAS 83, SAN JOSE 59 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS GRIND UP AMIGOS
 SAN JOSE -- Two slaughter-rule games and out as the three-time defending champs from Dallas shake the San Jose team off its back like an eagle shakes off rain. This second win, an 83-59 road triumph in which they shot 65.4 percent, puts the Demons in the Finals for the fourth consecutive season. 

Following their usual pattern Dallas used an ungodly spurt of 25-8 in the third quarter to put this clinching contest out of reach.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

22 GVP...San Jose rookie point guard DONNIE DUPONS led his team in scoring with 17 points while posting a game-high 4 assists. The 6-2 Dupons was 5 for 13 from the field, potting 2 of 7 from deep and going 5 for 5 at the foul line. He added 1 rebound.

22 GVP...Hall of Fame Dallas shooting guard JUZAN DJINN led all scorers with 20 points, going 9 for 14 from the field while canning 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. He added 1 rebound and 1 assist.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

None

Points prevented by quarters

Dallas...0...9...6...0   Total=15

S.Jose...0...2...4...4...Total-10

Tops in points prevented

1. Pete Marzano, Dallas...6

2. St. Ides, San Jose...4

NEXT UP: Game 1 of the Finals, with heavily favored Dallas hosting Charleston. The Mountaineers are the only team to have defeated the Demons in the champs' last 28 games, doing so in astounding fashion with an 89-69 drubbing in Dallas in the second game of the season. The Demons avenged that loss by crushing Charleston at home 84-52. 

This will be just the second time Charleston and Dallas have locked horns in the Finals. The only time they met with the championship on the line was in Season 42, with Naf Naf-led Charleston coming out on top in the 2019 Florida games, 3 games to 1. It was the Mountaineers' last championship, with Dallas spoiling what would have been a perfect season with a Game 3 87-83 upset, led by Demons Playoff MVP Bingo Bango's 37 points.

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals...Seattle at Charleston...Game 2

 Charleston 79, Seattle 76

MOUNTAINEERS IN FINALS

CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Mountaineers, minus injured center Johnny Bananas, held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Seattle Stampede to sweep this SemiFinals series with a 79-76 win to return to the MBA Finals for the first time since Season 45.

It was a bittersweet win for Charleston, which lost its two-time All-MBA center Bananas early in the second quarter to a 7-game injury (basically the rest of the playoffs). What would the playoffs be without a Dave team losing a key player? Rookie Flatfoot Floogie turned in an excellent performance as the Mountaineer's new pivot, but will he be able to stand up to the rigors presented by Biggus Dickus and Dallas?

Seattle lost despite shooting 65.5 percent. Free throws were a major factor, with Charleston sinking 17 of 18 compared to just 3 of 4 for the Stampede.

Following six seasons in the cut pile, center John-John Grubb was called up by Charleston management to replace Johnny Bananas on the Finals roster. Grubb has never seen MBA action.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...Charleston's two-time All-MBA small forward PIPING PLOVER followed up his 18-point Game One performance with a game-high 24-point effort to earn POG honors. The 6-7, third-year man was the go-to guy in this one for the Mountaineers, going 9 for 14 from the floor (1 for 2 from deep and 5 for 5 from the foul line) while pulling down 4 boards and assisting once. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Seattle point guard Bellybutton Inquisition...18 points...7 assists...2 rebounds.

25 GVP...Charleston's rookie back-up center Flatfoot Floogie...19 points...5 rebounds...1 assist.

24 GVP...Seattle forward Erik A. Crocidale...16 points...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...1 assist.

22 GVP...Seattle All-MBA center Chochky Galumpkus...18 points...2 assists...1 rebound...1 block

21 GVP...Charleston power forward Nick Kenpoop...15 points (3 slams)...3 rebounds...2 blocks...1 assist.

21 GVP...Charleston guard Kopi Luwak...16 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.

NEXT UP: San Jose faces the daunting task of having to beat mighty Dallas two games in a row. Look for the Demons to take their familiar place in the Finals against the latest Dave team to face these Goliaths.

Season 55 Playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...San Jose at Dallas

DALLAS 74, SAN JOSE 54 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DALLAS DEMONS DOMINATE

DALLAS--Three-time defending champion Dallas handed visiting San Jose its head on the way to a 74-54 Slaughter Rule victory to begin its Season 55 playoff run.

San Jose, which was held to 44.4 percent shooting and out-rebounded 31-18, actually led 11-10 early in the game before the Demons ripped off 12 consecutive points to end the first quarter, signaling the start of the ass-whooping.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Former playoff MVP PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO got his post-season off to an outstanding start as he dominated Scobee Bryant of San Jose on the way to a game-high 24-point performance that included a game-high 5 blocked shots. Marzano nearly doubled his regular-season average of 12.2 points per game, going 11 for 16 from the floor and repeatedly burning the Amigos with one short jump shot after another. The 6-8 fourth-year small forward was 0 for 2 from deep, slammed one home and was 2 for 3 from the foul line. Besides killing it defensively, he added 2 rebounds.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...14 points...7 rebounds...2 assists. 

22 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...12 points...8 rebounds...2 assists. 

22 GVP...San Jose's All-MBA shooting guard Vinnie Zazeech...19 points...2 rebounds...1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...11 rebounds...9 points...1 assist. 

NEXT UP: Seattle will be fighting for its playoff life as it takes to the road to visit Charleston, which can wrap up a Finals berth with a second straight victory. 

 

Season 55 playoffs...SemiFinals Game 1...Charleston at Seattle

Charleston 75, Seattle 63

MOUNTAINEERS WIN OPENER

SEATTLE -- The visiting Charleston Mountaineers got a monster game off the bench from bombadier Itsaka Numdrum and took advantage of Seattle's season-long inability to hit from beyond the arc, capturing Game 1 in this best of 3, 75-63.

Playing their first playoff game in five seasons, Charleston used a 29-point second quarter to stake themselves to a 48-33 halftime lead, with Numdrum nailing 3 of his 4 treys during that stretch. They upped that advantage to 20 points early in the third quarter, in what looked like the development of a blowout game, but Seattle fought back stubbornly to within 12 going into the fourth.

With a coffee-fueled Seattle crowd exhorting them on, the Stampede got within 8 points, but their 1 for 15 shooting from deep was something they could not overcome. 

During the season, Seattle was the worst in the league from beyond the arc, shooting 15.2 percent, so this was no fluke.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...Playing outstanding ball in a losing effort, second-year Seattle two guard HILBEE "THE SKINNY GERMAN" JUGGLEBOY scored 14 points, grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds, blocked a game-high 3 shots, dished 3 helpers and swiped 1 steal. The 6-2 defensive stalwart was 5 for 9 from the floor (0 for 2 from deep) and 4 of 5 from the foul line. He started the game with a 5-rebound first quarter.

 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Charleston's All-MBA forward Piping Plover...18 points...4 rebounds...2 steals...2 assists.

24 GVP...Charleston guard Kopi Luwak...16 points...5 rebounds...3 assists.

22 GVP...Charleston substitute guard Itsaka Numdrum...16 points...(4 treys)...5 rebounds...1 steal.

22 GVP...Seattle foraward Erik A. Crocidale...16 points...4 rebounds...1 assist...1 blocked shot.

NEXT UP: The powerful Dallas Demons (9-1) begin their quest for a fourth consecutive MBA crown as they host the underdog San Jose Fighting Amigos (7-3). The Demons have won 6 consecutive playoff games with basically the same overwhelming lineup and have a 25-1 record in their last 26 contests. Meanwhile, San Jose returns to the post season for the first time in three seasons, with a 3-game winning streak. Dallas counters with an 8-game victory streak of its own. The two clubs, which boast the two youngest starting lineups in the MBA,  did not meet during the regular season.

Season 55 Wrap-Up

Next Up: SemiFinals Game 1...Charleston at Seattle...They met in the last game for each team during the regular season, with the Stampede winning at home 79-70, with Chocky Galumpkus as POG with 23 points. Seattle killed Charleston on the boards in this victory, 26-11.

 

Season 55 Featured Game No. 10...Charleston at Seattle

 SEATTLE 79, CHARLESTON 70

STAMPEDE OUT-MUSCLES LARIATS

SEATTLE -- Dominating the backboards 26-11, the Seattle Stampede (7-3) completed one of the franchise's most successful regular seasons by dusting the visiting Charleston Mountaineers 79-70 in what they hope will be a preview of first round playoff success against that same team. 

Barring a 30-something point win margin by San Jose in its final game against Sacramento, Seattle will finish in first place in the West, securing playoff assignments for all four post-season teams.

Seattle, led by center Chochky Galumpkus, took a healthy lead early and using the league's top defense, never let the visitors off the mat. At halftime, Seattle's 5-11 point guard Bellybutton Inquisition, was out-rebounding Charleston by himself, 6 to 5. As the Stampede faithful roared, the team led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, and by the time Charleston (now 6-4) started finding some offense in the fourth quarter, the game was already well in hand. 

The cross-over win was just the third of the season, with the East finishing on top (as usual) 7-3.

The seven-win campaign by Seattle was the team's best regular season total since they went 7-3 in Season 23. And you have to go all the way back back back back back to Season 10, to find the last time the Stampede finished in first place in its division (8-2...lost in Finals). This is just the third time in 55 seasons that Seattle has finished first going into the playoffs.

Points Prevented

Charleston=6

Seattle=9

Tops in points prevented

1. Chochky Galumpkus, Seattle...4

1. Nick Kenpoop, Charleston.......4

3. Hilbee Juggleboy, Seattle..........3

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Making a strong bid for his third All-MBA foil star, Seattle savior CHOCHKY GALUMPKUS, the tallest man in the MBA at 7-1, finished off the regular season with his fourth POG of the season, tying him for most overall with Pinky Toe of Los Angeles and Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn of Dallas. Galumpkus came to Seattle via free agency from Oklahoma City and turned the franchise around as the team went from 3-7 in last place to 7-3 and first place. He came into this final contest of Season 55 just barely ahead of rookie center Poop-Rupiah 3000 of his old Oklahoma City team and really gave the youngster something difficult to shoot at as far as that foil star is concerned. Galumpkus scored a game-high 23 points, dominating last season's All-MBA center Johnny Bananas, while pulling down 5 rebounds and tying for team-high in assists with 3. Additionally, he played superb defense, tying for the most points prevented in the game with 4. Galumpkus, in his 10th season, was 11 for 15 from the field with 3 slams and 1 for 1 from the foul line. He ended up with a 15.5 points per game scoring average and 5.5 rebounds per game, both tops on his team. Additionally, his 2.6 assists per game is almost one full assist better than his previous best season and his 13 blocks are also a personal best campaign.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Charleston small forward Piping Plover...21 points...4 rebounds...3 blocks...1 assist...1 steal.

24 GVP...Seattle small forward Erik A. Crocidale...14 points...6 rebounds...2 blocks...2 assists. 

23 GVP...Seattle point guard Bellybutton Inquisition...11 points...9 rebounds...3 assists. 

21 GVP...Charleston rookie power forward Nick Kenpoop...15 points...3 rebounds...2 assists...1 block.

20 GVP...Retiring Seattle power forward Frog Morton...16 points...4 rebounds. 

MBA Standings … Season 55

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………8-1 (clinched playoffs and home court advantage)

CHARLESTON………. 6-4 (clinched playoffs)

PHILADELPHIA………5-4 (eliminated)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE………….7-3 (clinched playoffs)

SAN JOSE…………6-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………5-4 (eliminated)

SACRAMENTO… 2-7 (eliminated)

LOS ANGELES….. 1-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Milwaukee at Oklahoma City. The Greyhounds already have last place sewed up. The Lariats have an outside chance for third place, but only if they smear Milwaukee and Dallas creams Philadelphia. Oklahoma City bested Milwaukee to open the season 82-68. The real watch is Oklahoma City rookie Poop-Rupiah 3000 trying to catch Chochky Galumpkus for All-MBA center. He needs a huge game, but standing in his way is Hall of Fame pivot J.J. Gargantuan.  

 

 

Season 55...Featured Game No. 9...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 79, OKLAHOMA CITY 76

DEMONS COME ROARING BACK FOR WIN

DALLAS -- It's been proven time and again that no lead is safe from the mighty three-time-defending-champion Dallas Demons, and the dominant ones underlined that point again with a 79-76 victory over Oklahoma City.

The visiting Lariats led by 11 points going into the fourth quarter, but as is so often the case, that margin proved to be a trifle for Dallas. Halfway through the final period, the Demons had already put themselves within a point of the lead, which they finally took over on a bucket by substitute forward Venial Sinn with 20 ticks remaining.

Sinn was in the game thanks to a brawl between Dallas forward Satan Israel and Oklahoma City forward Buba Lipa, which ended with technicals on both players and an ejection to that age-old troublemaker, Satan. 

Dallas held a 1-point lead when a Demons miss with time running out gave the Lariats a chance for the rebound and a winning bucket. But Sinn skied for the rebound, grabbed it and scored at the buzzer for the final 3-point margin.

It was the eighth straight time Dallas has beaten Oklahoma City and it eliminated the Lariats from playoff contention.

This game also clinched the playoffs for Charleston. It will be their first post-season appearance since Season 49. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

41 GVP...Who else but Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN, who is shooting for back-to-back MVP honors and cut the heart out of the Lariats in this win. The two-way-player extraordinaire went off for a game-high 28 points while blocking a game-high 6 shots, assisting 3 times and pulling down 4 rebounds. He badly out-played his opposite, Handsy Joe Potatoe, and has now tied Pinky Toe of Los Angeles with 4 POGs this season. The 6-2 two guard was 9 for 16 from the floor and 6 of 7 from the foul line. He came into the game shooting just 24.2 percent from beyond the arc, but murdered Oklahoma City with a 4 for 5 game from deep. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

32 GVP...Oklahoma City Hall of Fame forward Crentis Dentist...24 points...4 steals...2 blocks...2 assists.

28 GVP...Oklahoma City rookie center Poop-Rupiah 3000...19 points...6 rebounds...2 blocks...1 assist

27 GVP...Dallas Demons point guard Vicious Hick...21 points (3 treys)...4 rebounds...2 assists. 

21 GVP...Oklahoma City power forward Phillip Mianus...10 points...5 rebounds...3 assists...3 blocks

20 GVP...Dallas forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...12 points...4 rebounds...3 blocks...1 steal

MBA Standings … Season 55

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….8-1 (clinched playoffs and home court advantage)

CHARLESTON………. 6-3 (clinched playoffs)

PHILADELPHIA………4-4 (eliminated)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE………….5-3

SAN JOSE………… 5-3

GILLETTE…………5-3

SACRAMENTO… 2-6 (eliminated)

LOS ANGELES….. 1-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: First-place Seattle travels to last-place Los Angeles where the Stampede, being chased by two teams, hopes to keep its place atop the West. This may be the final home game ever in Los Angeles, but The Big One can still salvage the city with a win or two in their final games.

Season 55 Featured Game No. 8...Gillette at Seattle

GILLETTE 76, SEATTLE 74

HUMPS MAKE IT A 3-WAY RACE IN WEST

SEATTLE -- Player of the Game Bellybutton Inquisition of Seattle got himself free for an uncontested medium jump shot at the buzzer that would have tied the game, but his shot rattled in and out, and the visiting Gillette Humps triumphed 76-74.

Inquisition's miss was preceded by a clutch 3-pointer by Lefty Scavenger at the 3 time unit mark that gave Gillette the winning margin. 

The win by Gillette gives the West three teams with 5-3 records, with the Humps and Stampede joined by San Jose. 

The road win came despite an outstanding defensive effort from Seattle, which prevented 20 Gillette points.

The teams split the season series.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Gillette...0...0...4...0...Total=4

Seattle....7...0...7...6...Total=20

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Chochky Galumpkus, Seattle...7

2. Erik A. Crocidale, Seattle...6

PLAYER OF THE GAME

27 GVP...5-11 Seattle point guard BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION did everything possible short of hitting that last-second jumper to try and get his team the win. The third-year guard scored a game-high 23 points on 8 for 15 shooting, going 3 for 3 from long range and driving to the cup for a pair of slam dunks. He was 4 for 6 from the foul line, adding 3 rebounds and an assist and solidly out-performing Joey Shamadu, Jr. of Gillette. This was the second POG of the season for Inquisition, who was also top man in the early-season win against this same Gillette team. He's now averaging 15.4 points per game and leads the Stampede in scoring. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

24 GVP...Gillette center Blob Dylan...21 points...3 rebounds.

23 GVP...Seattle forward Erik A. Crocidale...17 points (6 slams)...2 rebounds...3 blocks...2 rebounds...1 assist...6 points prevented.

22 GVP...Gillette forward Dark Urine...12 points...5 rebounds...3 blocked shots...1 steal...1 assist. 

20 GVP...Gillette two guard Lefty Scavenger...10 points...5 assists...4 rebounds...1 blocked shot.

20 GVP...Seattle center Chochky Galumpkus...11 points...4 rebounds...4 assists...1 block...7 points

 prevented.

MBA Standings … Season 55

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS……………….6-1

PHILADELPHIA………4-3

CHARLESTON………. 4-3

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-4

MILWAUKEE……….. 2-5

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE………….5-3

SAN JOSE………… 5-3

GILLETTE…………5-3

SACRAMENTO… 2-5

LOS ANGELES….. 1-7 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Philadelphia at Charleston in a huge East Division game between the two teams (with identical records) vying for that second playoff spot behind mighty  Dallas. The Phobia finishes its season against Dallas, which would give it at least four losses. A loss to the Mountaineers would be 5 losses, and not many .500 teams make the playoffs in the East. Philly did a number on Charleston in their first meeting, winning 81-69, despite a POG effort from Mountaineer guard Kopi Luwak.

Note: We may skip the above game for now depending on Tyler’s schedule. That would mean the next game would be Milwaukee at Dallas.

Season 55...Featured Game No. 7...plus Bracket 7 Summary...plus look at next bracket...plus 3-point shooting Bonus

DALLAS 71, SEATTLE 52 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS ROLL OVER BEST IN WEST

DALLAS -- Despite shooting just 45.2 percent, the Dallas Demons (now 6-1) easily defeated the top team in the West Division, the Seattle Stampede (now 5-2), increasing their lead with every quarter for a final Slaughter Rule score of 71-52. 

It was the fifth consecutive win for the three-time defending champions, who have vanquished their last 5 opponents by an average of 22 points per win.

Coming into the contest, this cross-over game featured the top two offenses, the top 2 rebounding teams and the two of the league's 3 top defenses. 

Both teams remained in first place in their respective divisions, with the East now holding a 5-2 advantage in cross-over contests.

Points Prevented by team...Dallas 19, Seattle 11

Top Players in Points Prevented

1. Biggus Dickus, Dallas...6

2. Hilbee Juggleboy, Seattle...5

PLAYER OF THE GAME

26 GVP...Stalwart fifth-season Dallas power forward SATAN ISRAEL dominated his man, Frog Morton on the way to his first POG of the season. The 6-8 Israel tied for game-high in scoring with 18 points while crashing the boards for a game-high 8 rebounds. He was 8 for 12 from the floor, including a pair of slam dunks (missing all 3 of his bombs) and going 2 for 2 at the foul line. The big guy is now averaging 14.4 ppg.

Other 20-plus GVP performers (none for Seattle)

23 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...14 points...7 rebounds...1 blocked shot...1 assist...tops in points prevented.

22 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...18 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds.

Standings changes after bracket 7

-- Charleston's win over Oklahoma City saw the Mountaineers take the Lariats' third-place spot in the East, while the Lariats went from third to fourth place.

-- There was no changes in the standings in the West.

Bracket 8 preview

The bracket starts out with Pinky Toe and Los Angeles at San Jose, with The Big One possibly seeing a way out of the cellar, having won their first contest in bracket 7 against this same Fighting Amigos team.

The FEATURED GAME shines a light on the Gillette Humps for the first time in Season 55 as they visit first-place Seattle with a chance to get back in the playoff hunt. The Stampede won the first meeting 79-70.

The bracket also includes a key matchup between Philadelphia and Charleston that will go a long way to deciding the second playoff team in the East.

BONUS 

RANKING TEAM 3-POINT

SHOOTING EFFECTIVENESS

Formula is team’s 3-point shooting percentage plus number of 3s made.

1.    1. Dallas Demons…100 attempts, 40 made…40%...80  total… shooters 30 percent or more… Vicious Hick

2.    2. Milwaukee Greyhounds…82-32…39%...71 total…Ehhy Table…Itstha Bishop…Rabbit Munchers

3.    3. Gillette Greyhounds…85-32…37.6%...69.6 total…Joey Shamadu…Lefty Scavenger

4.    4. Philadelphia Phobia…65-27…41.5%...68.5 total…Dick Papers…Splash Gordon…Turk Attaturk

5.    5. Oklahoma City Lariats…98-32…32.7%...64.7 total…King Czardines and Crentis Dentist

6.    6. Charleston Mountaineers…87-29…33.3%...62.3 total…Seeyalater Scronto and Kopi Luwak

7.    7. Sacramento River Dogs…75-25…33.3%...58.3 total…Thomas Thomas Thomas…Karma Chameleon…Anthony Finseca

8.    8. Los Angeles Big One…96-27…28.1%...55.1 total…Pinky Toe

9.    9. San Jose Fighting Amigos…74-22…29.7…51.7 total…Donny Dupons

St10. Seattle Stampede…95-15…15.8%...30.8 total…Hilbee Juggleboy.

SUMMARY: As expected, Dallas being a great 3-point shooting team (among other talents) leads the way…but Milwaukee and Gillette at numbers 2 and 3 indicates that teams cannot live by 3-pointers alone. Look, for example at the last team on the list. Seattle has been putrid at 3s for some time now; by far the worst in the league this season.  But they are having a fine campaign,  in first place in the West, even without being effective from beyond the arc.

Dallas, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles take the most treys per game while Philly, San Jose and Sacramento take the least.

 

 

Season 55 Featured Game No. 6...Dallas at Charleston

DALLAS 84, CHARLESTON 52

DEMONS EXACT REVENGE

CHARLESTON -- This was more of an execution than a game as the three-time-defending champions from Dallas (now 5-1) continued their inevitable march to a fourth consecutive championship with an 84-52 ass-whipping of the Charleston Mountaineers (now 3-3).

The 32-point victory for the Demons was extreme payback for their only loss this season...a confounding 89-69 defeat at the hands of these same Mountaineers.

It was the third straight loss for a spiraling Charleston team and a fourth consecutive triumph for Dallas. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

30 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN racked the his third triple-double of the season and sixth of his storied career, resulting in a third POG honor in his last four contests. The third POG ties him with Pinky Toe of Los Angeles and Chochky Galumpkus of Seattle for the league lead in that department. The six-season veteran 16 points were actually below his 17-per-game average entering the contest, and his shooting was a tad off, going 8 for 17 from the floor (0 for 2 from deep). But, of course, the stat-stuffing Djinn more than made up for that with a game-high 7 blocked shots, 6 rebounds and 1 assist, putting his personal stamp on the victory and destroying his one-time running mate Kopi Luwak in the process. After 6 completed brackets, Djinn is at the top of the list to repeat as league MVP.

Other 20-plus GVP performers (nobody from Charleston)

28 GVP...Dallas small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...19 points...3 steals...3 rebounds...2 blocked shots...1 assist.

25 GVP...Dallas point guard Vicious Hick...18 points (4 treys)...5 rebounds...2 assists.

25 GVP...Dallas power forward Satan Israel...16 points (3 slams)...8 rebounds...1 assist.

20 GVP...Dallas center Biggus Dickus...13 points...3 rebounds...2 steals...2 blocked shots.

Bracket 6 Summary

--Philadelphia's pounding of Oklahoma City and the destruction of Charleston at the hands of Dallas secured second place in the East for the Phobia and they exchanged places with Oklahoma City, who dropped to third.

--No changes in the standings in the West

Next up

-- Bracket 7 starts out with Philadelphia at Milwaukee, which at first glance might be considered a mismatch. But Milwaukee, which is facing a possible exit from the city, is coming off of its first win of the season and played the Phobia tough in the season opener before losing 79-78.

-- The Featured Game of the bracket will be the last one...a cross-over contest with Seattle at Dallas, the two teams atop their respective divisions and the two clubs with the best records in the league. Dallas has to be favored, but Seattle has a chance to see how much of an opponent they can be in the post-season.

55th MBA All Star Game

EAST 91, WEST 80

FAMILIAR STORY AS EAST TOPS WEST

PHILADELPHIA -- In a high-octane all star contest in which both squads shot over 60 percent from the field, the East came out of the gate quickly and sustained their double-digit advantage to the end, triumphing 91-80.

Los Angeles second-year star Pinky Toe and Hall of Fame veteran Crentis Dentist of Oklahoma City lit it up offensively, each scoring 30 points for their respective teams. Toe dominated the ball for the West, shooting 25 times and tossing up 12 3-pointers (of which he hit 4), managing to come up with his large point total despite being guarded by Juzan Djinn, one of the league's premier defenders.

Trailing by 8 going into the final quarter, the West cut the lead to 6 early in the stanza before the East took control again. 

This was the 35th win by the East (to 20 for the West) and marks the fourth time they've won this star contest in the past 5 seasons. 

Dallas Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn also shined in this, his fifth All Star Game outing, and his 7 assists ties him all time with Percy Faith in All Star contests with 20. Additionally, Djinn's game-high 4 blocks makes him the All Star leader in that department with 18. He is now averaging 20 points per game in All Star competition. 

CAREER LEADERS IN ALL STAR ASSISTS

20--Juzan Djinn, Dallas

20--Percy Faith, Dallas/Oklahoma City

19--Uncle Bob Masterson, Philadelphia

18--Pietro Destroyer, Charleston/Chicago/Seattle

15--Marcus Pettis, Sacramento/Houston

CAREER LEADERS IN ALL STAR BLOCKED SHOTS

18--Juzan Djinn, Dallas

16--Curly Hogbottom, Dallas/Philadelphia

16--J.J. Gargantuan, Charleston/Dallas/Sacramento/Milwaukee

15--Tom "the Bomb" Kondla, Seattle/Houston/Chicago/Dallas

14--Jimsy Redfern, Charleston

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP...Hall of Fame forward CRENTIS DENTIST of Oklahoma City became one of just 10 MBA players to capture multiple MVP of the All Star Game honors, capturing his second in three seasons with a 30-point explosion that included tying for game-high in rebounds with 4 and swiping 1 steal. The 6-6 small forward was 14 for 16 from the field, his only two misses coming on long bombs (in which he was 1 for 3). He was also 1 for 1 at the foul line. He did all this despite spending a good deal of time on the bench in foul trouble and eventually fouling out with 29 time units remaining in the game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

34 GVP...Los Angeles point guard Pinky Toe...30 points...3 rebounds...1 assist.

28 GVP...Dallas guard Juzan Djinn...15 points...7 assists...4 blocked shots...2 rebounds.

25 GVP...Charleston forward Piping Plover...19 points...4 rebounds...1 assist...1 steal.

25 GVP...San Jose small forward Scobee Bryant...20 points...3 rebounds...1 assist...1 blocked shot.

NEXT UP: The second half of Season 55 kicks off with a cross-over game between the only two teams yet to chalk up a victory. Los Angeles travels to Milwaukee in a contest in which one of them HAS to win. 

The next three games in the bracket are all important, but the featured game is the final one in which Dallas visits Charleston, with the three-time defending champions looking for revenge for a slaughter-rule loss to the Mountaineers. 

 

Season 55 All Star Game Rosters and observations

History of All Star Games Played in Philadelphia

-- Season 8...West won 72-69...MVP was Hall of Fame center Mable Reed of Seattle who was also the game's top scorer with 23 poiints.

-- Season 12...East won 86-71...MVP was hometown hero, Hall of Fame guard Uncle Bob Masterson of Philadelphia who was also game's high scorer with 23 points.

-- Season 24...East won 100-66...MVP was Hall of Fame guard Tommy Zoop of Oklahoma who was also game's high scorer with 29 points.

-- Season 40...East won 77-75...MVP was Hall of Fame guard Beezow Bop-Bop of Charleston...top scorer in game was Hall of Fame guard Naf Naf of Oklahoma City with 19 points.

-- Season 46...East won 88-80...MVP was hometown hero, Hall of Fame guard Colquit Croix of Philadelphia who was also game's high scorer with 26 points.

Most All Star Game Appearances

11--Hall of Fame center Max Payne

11--Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan (still active)

10--Hall of Fame guard Uncle Bob Masterson

10--Hall of Fame guard Mamadou Zongo

9---Hall of Fame forward Curly Hogbottom

20-plus GVP players left off this year's teams

G-King Czardines, Oklahoma City 23.4

G-Ehhy Table, Milwaukee 23.2

G-Bellybutton Inquisition, Seattle 20.2

F-Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia 20.2

F-Turk Attaturk, Philadelphia 20.0

NEXT UP...55th MBA All Star Game to be held in Philadelphia

East has won 34, West has won 20...East has won three of last 4

 

Season 55 Featured Game No. 5...San Jose at Seattle...plus a new bonus feature

 

Seattle 80, San Jose 54 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

Stampede tramples Amigos

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Stampede (now 4-1) assured itself of entering the All Star Game break in first place in the West by blowing away the visiting San Jose Fighting Amigos (3-2) 80-54; the biggest margin of victory by anyone this season.

The win ended the 3-game winning streak for San Jose and split the season series between the two at one each. 

After scoring just 55 points against the Amigos in their first meeting, it was Seattle's turn to frustrate San Jose by holding the visitors to just 44 shots in a performance that they dominated from the opening tip.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

31 GVP...Seattle's fine second-year forward ERIC A. CROCIDALE assured himself of his second All Star Game appearance in as many seasons with a game-high 25-point performance in which he dominated his opposite, Scobee Bryant. In their first meeting it was Bryant dominating Crocidale for the POG. But "The Croc" turned things around with a 10 for 15 shooting night that included 4 slam dunks and 5 for 6 from the foul line. Additionally, the 6-8 star blocked a game-high 3 shots and pulled down 3 rebounds. This was his first POG of the season. He was the team MVP as a rookie last season and Seattle fans are hoping he will buck the tradition of moving on to a different franchise.

Other 20-plus GVP performers (None from San Jose)

24 GVP...Seattle point guard Bellybutton Inquisition...19 points...3 rebounds...2 assists. 

MBA Standings … Season 55

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………3-1

CHARLESTON………. 3-1

OKLAHOMA CITY…..2-2

PHILADELPHIA………2-2

MILWAUKEE……….. 0-4

 

WEST DIVISION

SEATTLE…………..4-1

GILLETTE………….3-1

SAN JOSE………… 3-2

SACRAMENTO… 1-3

LOS ANGELES….. 0-4

 

NEXT UP: A rematch of the two bottom feeders in the West with Los Angeles at Sacramento. The R-Dogs got their lone win thus far in their previous meeting in an 81-79 barn-burner. The game means more to L.A. since another last-place finish means that The Big One could be rolling the cube of chance to see if it leaves LaLa Land.

BONUS...CAN YOU GUESS WHO THIS RETIRED MBA PLAYER IS?