Season 56 Featured Game No. 10...Seattle at San Jose...plus Vinny Zazeech Day

SEATTLE 83, SAN JOSE 71 (on VINNY ZAZEECH DAY)

STAMPEDE TRAMPLES VINNY'S DAY

SAN JOSE -- Playing like the team unanimously selected to finish first in the division prior to the season, the visiting Seattle Stampede (4-6 final record) rained all over Vinny Zazeech Day by besting the first-place Fighting Amigos (8-2 final record) 83-71. 

Seattle shot a lights-out 62.7 percent against the league's best defense in a performance that was the exact opposite of their 60-51 loss in the first meeting of these squads; a game in which San Jose held Seattle to just 46.2 percent shooting.

The loss for San Jose probably means they will not have home court advantage, as hoped, in the playoffs. For that to happen, they need Charleston to beat Dallas at home in the last game of the regular season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP...Mighty mite point guard BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION had his best game of the season, leading Seattle to this victory. The 5-11 veteran, who has been running the Stampede offense for the past four seasons, dominated his opposite, the defensive-minded Donny Dupons, with a game-high 26-points on 10 of 17 shooting. He was 2 for 6 from deep and a perfect 4 for 4 from the foul line, and the spring-loaded leaper added a slam dunk, tied for team-high in rebounds with 4, handed out 4 assists and provided 1 steal in a superb display of leading his troops. Inquisition upped his scoring average for the season to 13.4 ppg. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...San Jose small forward L.S. Island...19 points...5 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Seattle Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus...14 points...4 assists...2 rebounds.

Vinny Honored

The Fighting Amigos honored retiring shooting guard Vinny Zazeech at halftime for a short, 6-season career, that was nonetheless worthy of eternal rest in the Tier 1 envelope. The first 1,000 fans entering the building were given a “sangwich” in Vinny’s honor, and the popular guard was given a lifetime supply of gabagool by the team for his farewell present.

Zazeech entered the MBA tied for the tallest guard in league history at 6-8 and immediately found a starting spot that he never relinquished. His first season for Philadelphia, Season 51, was the last time the Phobia made the playoffs, and Vinny’s 47.6 percent 3-point shooting was a major factor in the team’s success. He then left Philadelphia for Charleston where he led the Mountaineers in scoring at 17.3 ppg and 3-point shooting before finally settling for his last four campaigns in San Jose. During those four seasons Zazeech tied for the league lead in scoring (20.3 ppg Season 55) and 3-point shooting (Season 53) while topping the Amigos in scoring twice, assists twice, steals twice and 3-point shooting three times. Zazeech made the All Star Game in five of his six seasons while earning an All-MBA foil star in Season 55’s playoff run for San Jose. Give him a napkin. He will be missed.

MBA Standings … Season 56

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS………………….7-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

MILWAUKEE………..5-4

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

PHILADELPHIA………4-6 (eliminated)

CHARLESTON………. 3-6 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

SAN JOSE…………8-2 (clinched playoffs)(clinched first)

GILLETTE…………6-4 (clinched playoffs)

LOS ANGELES….6-4 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….4-6 (eliminated)

SACRAMENTO… 1-9 (eliminated)

 

NEXT UP: Milwaukee at Oklahoma City where the Lariats need to out-score the Greyhounds by 62 or more points in order to make the playoffs. Ain’t happening. Milwaukee won the first meeting between these two teams 84-71 with Johnny Bananas the POG.