OKLAHOMA CITY 75, DALLAS 66 (series tied 2-2)
LARIATS FORCE GAME 5
OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the second season in a row, the highly favored Dallas Demons have been forced to a Game 5, winner-takes-all showdown.
Last season they prevailed over the huge underdogs, the 5-5 Milwaukee Greyhounds. This time around it's the left-for-dead Oklahoma City Lariats who are dragging the talented Whiz Kids to the showdown contest.
The Lariats, playing the rest of the Finals without their best player, King Czardines, shocked the MBA universe with a 75-66 Game 4 home victory in which they never trailed and led by as many as 21 points.
Dallas made a fourth-quarter blitz at Oklahoma City, out-scoring the eventual victors 20-10 in a game that mirrored the Lariats' Game 2 triumph (86-72). In both Lariat wins, Oklahoma City built huge leads going into the fourth and hung on for dear life.
The Demons were ice cold from the start and finished at a 40 percent shooting clip in which they failed to convert a single 3-pointer in 14 attempts. Free throws kept them within hollering distance, as they converted 16 of 17 compared to just 1 for Oklahoma City.
The Lariats, the MBA's top shot-blocking team during the regular season, asserted itself magnificently with 13 swat-aways by five different players.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
40 GVP...For the second straight game, the POG went to Dallas small forward PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO, who delivered a triple-double of dominant proportions against Toilety T. Paper of Oklahoma City. The regular season MVP, Marzano scored a game-high 27 points on 10 of 19 shooting, hitting on 7 of 8 from the foul line. The second-year All-MBA forward also topped everyone with 5 blocked shots, pulled down 7 rebounds and handed out 1 assist. Tyler predicted he would kill Paper and he did just that.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
29 GVP...Eight-year Oklahoma City stalwart, center Chochky Galumpkus, was in a deadly pivot battle with second-year man Biggus Dickus. There was no clear winner, but Galumpkus played big with 16 points (including 3 slams), a team-high 10 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal.
27 GVP...The other 7-foot center in the game, Biggus Dickus of Dallas, was also monstrous on the boards, accounting for a game-high 12 caroms while scoring 14 points, adding 1 assist.
25 GVP...Oklahoma City rookie forward Phillip Mianus had his way with veteran Al A. Orden for the fourth consecutive game, scoring a team-high 20 points, blocking 3 shots and grabbing 2 boards while Orden was held to 2 points.
24 GVP...With Czardines unable to play, Oklahoma City moved Handsy Joe Potatoe to point guard, and the veteran responded with a 16-point game that included a team-high 4 blocked shots. He added 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 rebound before (as Tyler predicted) he fouled out with 42 time units remaining and his team up by 8.
20 GVP...It's highly unusual for the All-MBA guard tandem of Dallas to be out-played by their opponents, but that;s what happened in this game. Thrust into the starting lineup, Oklahoma City's Ol' Roy responded with his usual good defense and rebounding while contributing 10 points. The 6-6 Roy had 5 rebounds, a game-high 3 assists and 2 blocked shots. Every dog food has his day.
NEXT UP: The Season 53 decider. The Demons won easily on their home court in the unexpected Game 5 last season against Milwaukee. They are again favored to do so in this Finale, which is again at home. The Lariats and Demons have met six times this season, each winning three.
Should we expect the expected or anticipate the unexpected? Tune in.
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