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.