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.
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