MBA S43 Playoffs Semifinals game 2 San Jose at Chicago

Points Prevented by quarters
San Jose 0 - 6 - 6 - 3 Total=15
Chicago 2 - 2 - 7 - 2 Total=13

Top Points Prevented Players
1. Mike Hunt, San Jose 11
2. Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo, Chicago 5
3. King Schmeckpepr, Chicago 4

Chicago 80, San Jose 62
Gale, Boligrafo even series, lose Destroyer
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Gale, behind the 31-point performance of point guard Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo, used a strong second half to coast to an 80-62 home win and even the best of three semifinals series at one game each.

They did so, however, with another costly loss, as star forward Pietro Destroyer was injured with 58 time units remaining in the third quarter and was forced to leave the game. He will also miss one more contest, which will be the game in San Jose to determine which of these teams goes to the Season 43 MBA Finals.

At the time of his injury, Destroyer was the leading scorer in the game. For the decisive Game 3, he will be replaced in the Chicago starting lineup by third-year man Santo Thomas. The Gale will thus be playing this most important contest without two of its five starters, the other being center Yo Noid, who suffered a season-ending injury during the ninth game of the regular season. Eleven-year veteran forward Vermin Supreme was plucked by Chicago from the cut pile to fill out the forward spots on the roster.

Game note: Amazingly, Chicago was whistled for just two fouls the entire game. But the Gale's rookie head coach Vic Hitler still picked up the game's only technical.

PLAYER OF GAME
Picked up from Seattle in a preseason trade for guard LaQuill McCool and a third round pick next season, LAPIZ LAPIZ BOLIGRAFO has been outstanding for the Gale throughout this exciting campaign, but never as good as he was in this elimination game. All the seven-season vet did was go a perfect 11 for 11 from the floor, including 5 for 5 from beyond the arc, to lead all scorers with 31 points. (He was one shot away from the playoff record of 12 for 12 held by three different players). Boligrafo also had a dunk, was 4 for 7 from the free throw line, grabbed 2 rebounds, had 1 assist and 1 steal. Additionally, he was second in the game in points prevented.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Chicago power forward Bill Cull did not have an especially great shooting game, but managed to score 13 points while contributing game-high numbers in both rebounding (8) and assists (4).

-- San Jose point guard YourMajesty Lumpkins scored 13 points, pulled down 5 boards and tied for team-high with 3 assists.

-- Although limited to just 10 points, San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo blocked a game-high 3 shots, pulled down 5 rebounds, had 1 assist and 1 steal.

-- The dominance exhibited by San Jose's All-MBA center Hunk R. Down over Chicago's King Schmeckpepr was not enough to prevent what turned out to be a rout. The 7-foot pivot again led his team in scoring with 17 points while also leading in rebounds with 7. He tied for team-high in assists with 3 and blocked 1 shot.

NEXT UP: Highly favored Philadelphia looks to eliminate the surprising Lariats on their own home court. Philly leads its semifinals series 1-0 and has massacred Oklahoma City in both meetings.

Game 1 Semifinals Oklahoma City at Philadelphia

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTER
Oklahoma City 0 - 0 - 4 - 0 Total=4
Philadelphia 2 - 6 - 4 - 4 Total=16

TOP INDIVIDUALS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, Philadelphia 6
2. Diss Reflexia, Philadelphia 4

Philadelphia 84, Oklahoma City 53
PHOBIA PUTS THE FEAR IN VISITORS
PHILADELPHIA -- After crushing Oklahoma City by 19 points in the final game of the regular season, the highly favored Philadelphia Phobia turned up the juice even more in the playoff opener with a resounding 31-point triumph over the Lariats.

There was never a doubt in this, the Phobia's first playoff victory in five seasons, as the home team made mince meat out of the over-matched Oklahoma City club. One for 13 shooting from beyond the arc by the Lariats did them no good.

PLAYER OF GAME
Philly forward SLOPPY DOLLOP captured his second POG in as many meetings against his old team, leading everyone in scoring with 24 points while preventing the most points of any player in the game. Dollop played rings around his opponent Goodbar Masterson, going 11 for 18 from the floor, including a perfect 2 for 2 from beyond and a trio of exceptional dunks. He led everyone in blocked shots with 2, tied for team-high with 5 rebounds and dished 1 assist in the massacre.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS
-- In the first playoff game of his fine career, Philadelphia point guard Colquitt Croix played with a brilliantly efficient flair, scoring 18 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists and swiping 1 steal.

-- Playing in his last post-season, Philly center Diss Reflexia started the playoffs by dominating the top rookie center in the game, Willie Carry McCoffee. Reflexia scored 17 points, tied for top rebounding totals on his team with 5 and dished 1 assist, finishing second in points prevented.

-- Also in his final go-round, Oklahoma City point guard Mel A. Noma had a good game despite his team's putrid performance. Noma scored 14 points, had 4 rebounds and led his club with 4 assists.

-- Oklahoma City shooting guard Brownie McShytles led his team in scoring with 17 points, but took 19 shots to do so. He also pulled down 4 boards.

NEXT UP: The playoffs return to Chicago after a four-season absence as the Gale faces San Jose in an early elimination game. The Fighting Amigos took care of Chicago 79-69 and lead the best of three semifinals 1-0.

Playoffs Semifinals Game 1...Chicago at San Jose

San Jose 79, Chicago 69
CARPACCIO IN SPOTLIGHT AS AMIGOS TAKE GAME ONE
SAN JOSE -- Egg Yolk Carpaccio, your table is ready!

The least productive member of the West Division champion San Jose Fighting Amigos led the way to a 79-69 Game 1 triumph before a delirious home crowd Tuesday night. The 6-10 power forward registered a triple-double, coming within one assist of the rare quadruple-double, as San Jose won its first playoff game since Season 32 to take a 1-0 lead over Chicago in this best of three opening round for Season 43.

The team has bowed out of the past four post-season appearances without netting a win.

The visitors from Chicago got off to a fast start and led 26-19 after the first quarter, but the Amigos, powered by a 28-point third-quarter surge, took over by 7 entering the fourth and were never again headed.

San Jose totally dominated the boards in this game, 27-13. At the half, Carpaccio was out-rebounding Chicago 6-5 as the Fighting Amigos held an overall 16-5 advantage on the glass.

It did not help Chicago that its top scorer on the year, Bill Cull, had to sit due to old injuries in three different quarters, missing a total of 99 time units in the game.

So now the series goes back to Chicago, where the Gale already faces elimination.

Game note: All 10 starters from both teams reached double digits in scoring.

PLAYER OF GAME
If fourth-year forward EGG YOLK CARPACCIO plays anywhere close to his performance in this game, San Jose might just have a chance at winning its second MBA crown. All the 6-10 Carpaccio did was score 16 points while registering game-highs in rebounds (8), blocked shots (6) and tying for game-high honors in assists (4). The blocked shots in this game equaled his total for the entire season. He was 7 for 11 from the floor, hitting his first trey of the year in his only attempt, while slamming one home for good measure. At the foul line he was 1 for 2. He totally overshadowed Bill Cull.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo started slowly, but before it was over had racked up 16 points, grabbed 4 boards, and added 1 assist and 1 blocked shot to the triumph.

-- All-MBA center Hunk R. Down also got out of the gate slowly, getting three of his shots blocked by King Schmeckpepr, but the big 7-footer would not be denied. Showing strong moves around the hoop, Down ended up leading everyone in scoring with 17 points while pulling down 5 rebounds. He also blocked 2 shots for good measure.

-- Chicago forward Pietro Destroyer led his club in scoring with 16 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and tying for game-high in assists with 4.


Next up: Game 1 of the other semifinal series as the upstarts from Oklahoma City travel to Philadelphia to take on the highly favored Phobia.

Season 43 Leaders
SCORING
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 20.0 ppg (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 19.7
BILL CULL, CHICAGO 19.5
BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY 19.1
DR. MARCHUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES 18.1 (Rookie)
(Naf Naf wins record seventh consecutive scoring title)

REBOUNDING
STEVE CARTER, LOS ANGELES 5.9 per game
HUNK R. DOWN, SAN JOSE 5.7
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS 5.5 (Rookie)
(Carter first guard since Jerk Starks in Season 1 to win rebounding title)

ASSISTS
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON 4.2 per game
MEL A. NOMA, OKLAHOMA CITY 4.2 (retiring)
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE 3.8
(Wewa is first forward to ever place first in this category)

3-POINT SHOOTING
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE 61.1% - 33 made (94.1)
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 47.2% - 42 made (89.2) (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 57.8% - 30 made (87.8)


STEALS
POTUS OBAMA, SACRAMENTO 10
SLOPPY DOLLOP, PHILADELPHIA 10
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 8 (HOF) (RETIRING)


BLOCKED SHOTS
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS 53 (ROOKIE)
YO NOID, CHICAGO 24
UGATTA NOLUVFER SPIKIE, MILWAUKEE 19
(Battoe just fifth rookie to win blocked shots title)

FREE THROWS
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 89.3% - 25 made – 114.3
BILL CULL, CHICAGO 94.7% - 18 made – 112.7
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON 100.0% - 12 made – 112.0
(Second title for Croix in three seasons)

PLAYER OF THE GAME
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE – 4 TIMES
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON – 4 TIMES (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA – 4 TIMES

TIMES FOULED OUT
MEL A. NOMA, OKLAHOMA CITY – 6 TIMES (RETIRING)
JAMES “CHERRY CHALLENGE” PAYNE – 4 TIMES (ROOKIE)
(four others tied with 3)


TRIPLE DOUBLES
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS – 4 (ROOKIE)
BOP-BOP, CHARLESTON – 2 (HOF) (RETIRING) (9 career triple-doubles)
BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY – 1
BASKETS WEAVER, MILWAUKEE – 1
AKBAR ZAGOBIA, PHILADELPHIA – 1 (2 career triple-doubles)
POTUS OBAMA, SACRAMENTO – 1
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON – 1
KYLE SHERWOOD, SEATTLE – 1

TOP SCORING GAMES
38 POINTS…BILL CULL, CHICAGO vs. Charleston
37 POINTS…CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS vs. Chicago
35 POINTS…NAF NAF, CHARLESTON vs. Dallas (HOF) (RETIRING)
31 POINTS…SHEIK YERBOUTI, CHARLESTON vs. Chicago
31 POINTS…DR. MARCUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES vs. San Jose (ROOKIE)
31 POINTS…COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA vs. Chicago
30 POINTS…BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY vs. Los Angeles
30 POINTS…NAF NAF, CHARLESTON vs. Milwaukee


All-MBA Team…Season 43
FIRST TEAM
GUARD – DR. MARCUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES (26.1 GVP) (First time – Rookie season)
Rookie point guard more than lived up to the preseason hype for The Big One. In most seasons he would have been Rookie of the Year. Led team in scoring, assists and blocked shots.
18.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 4 steals, 14 blocked shots, 63.9 FT%, 50.0 FG%, 3 POGs, 1 Trip. Doub.

GUARD – NAF NAF, CHARLESTON (24.4 GVP) (Seventh time – Seventh season) (HOF)(Retiring)
Ties Curly Hogbottom for most All-MBA teams made. Led league in scoring for the seventh consecutive time in his final campaign. Tied for most POGs in league. Had most 30-point games.
20.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 8 steals, 61.1 FT%, 46.9 FG%, 4 POGs, 42 3-Pointers made

CENTER – HUNK R. DOWN, SAN JOSE (22.7 GVP) (First time – Fourth season)
After three seasons as back-up, takes the foil star in the pivot in initial campaign as starter for first place Fighting Amigos, justifying switch from two-time All-MBA center Pippi Pippistrelli.
14.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 17 blocked shots, 1 steal, 86.7 FT%, 78.0 FG%, 3 POGs

FORWARD – CHIP “THE CRIP” BATTOE, DALLAS (29.6 GVP) (First time – Rookie season)
Rookie power forward for Demons exceeded the highest of expectations, winning the league’s regular season MVP award handily. Stifling defense, superb rebounding, outstanding scoring.
18.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 53 blocked shots, 75.0 FT%, 67.8 FG%, 4 Triple-Doubles, 3 POGs

FORWARD – BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY (26.3 GVP) (First time – Fifth season)
Led surprising Oklahoma City team to playoffs after moving to his natural position at small forward. Finished second in league in MVP points, fourth in league in scoring.
19.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2 Blks., 5 steals, 79.2 FT%, 61.4 FG%, 3 POGs, 1 Triple-Double

SECOND TEAM ALL-MBA
Guard – Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia (24.2 GVP) (Fourth Season) 19.7 ppg, 89.3 FT%, 4 POGs
Guard – Beezow Bop-Bop, Charleston (24.1 GVP) (Tenth Season) 15.1 ppg, 15 blocks, 3 POGs
Center – Diss Reflexia, Philadelphia (21.8 GVP) (Eighth Season) 14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 81.7 FG%
Forward – Bill Cull, Chicago (24.9 GVP) (Sixth Season) 19.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 94.7 FT%, 79.8 FG%
Forward – Doo-rag Dripp, Sacramento (22.8 GVP) (Third Season) 16.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3 POGs

(Bop-Bop and Reflexia will both be retiring)

MVP VOTING (top 3)
1. CHIP BATTOE, Dallas 32.6 MVP points
2. BANG-BANG REINER, Oklahoma City 30.3
3. HUNK R. DOWN, San Jose 27.7
(Battoe is the fifth Dallas Demons player to win the MVP award, the first since Tom “The Bomb” Kondla captured the honor in Season 33)

ALL ROOKIE TEAM
G – Dr. Marcus Brody, Los Angeles 26.1 GVP
G – Hurricane Furrwizard, Milwaukee 16.6
C – Willie Carry McCoffee, Oklahoma City 19.4
F – Chip Battoe, Dallas 29.6
F – James “Cherry Challenge” Payne, Milwaukee 17.8


TEAM MVPS
CHICAGO GALE – BILL CULL, 6th Season, 6-8 forward 24.9 GVP
CHARLESTON MOUNTAINEERS – NAF NAF, 7th Season, 6-0 guard 24.4 GVP (HOF)(Retiring)
PHILDELPHIA PHOBIA – COLQUITT CROIX, 4th Season, 6-2 guard 24.2 GVP
DALLAS DEMONS – CHIP BATTOE, Rookie, 6-8 forward 29.6 GVP
MILWAUKEE GREYHOUNDS – BASKETS WEAVER, 6th Season, 6-4 guard 20.3 GVP
SEATTLE STAMPEDE – BOUGAINVILLEA HEDGE, 3rd Season, 6-8 forward 20.1 GVP
SAN JOSE FIGHTING AMIGOS – YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, 6th Season, 6-2 guard 23.8 GVP
LOS ANGELES BIG ONE – DR. MARCUS BRODY, Rookie, 6-1 guard 26.1 GVP
SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS – DOO-RAG DRIPP, 3rd Season, 6-7 forward 22.8 GVP
OKLAHOMA CITY LARIATS – BANG-BANG REINER, 5th Season, 6-7 forward 26.3 GVP




PLAYOFF PREVIEW
San Jose Fighting Amigos 8-2, 1st in West
vs.
Chicago Gale 7-3, 2nd in East
Best of 3
These two teams met once in the regular season (first game of the new campaign) with Chicago taking down San Jose 88-68 with Gale's Hunk R. Down and Pietro Destroyer sharing POG

Philadelphia Phobia 9-1, 1st in East
vs.
Oklahoma City Lariats 5-5, 2nd in West
Best of 3
These two teams met once in the regular season (last game of the campaign) with Philadelphia cruising 83-65 behind co-POGs Colquitt Croix and Sloppy Dollop

Winners of semifinals advance to best of 5 Finals

San Jose
Championships - 1 (most recent in Season 25)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 41

Chicago
Championships - 3 (most recent in Season 38)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 38

Philadelphia
Championships - 15 (most recent in Season 33)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 38

Oklahoma City
Championships - 3 (most recent in Season 41
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 42

My prediction...Philadelphia over Oklahoma City in sweep
Chicago over San Jose in three games
Philadelphia winning it all in four games over Chicago

MBA Season 43 Regular Season Stats and Honors

Featured Game...Philadelphia at Oklahoma City

PHILADELPHIA 83, OKLAHOMA CITY 65
PHOBIA PUTS PLAYOFF FEAR INTO LARIATS
OKLAHOMA CITY--In a preview of semifinal playoff action, the Philadelphia Phobia coasted home with a comfortable 83-65 cross-over road win against the Oklahoma City Lariats.

The game concluded Season 43's regular season schedule, with the Phobia finishing with a league best 9-1 mark, first-place in the tough East Division, while Oklahoma City ends in second in the West at 5-5, taking a three-game losing streak into the post-season.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Philadelphia 12 - 3 - 2 - 6 Total=23
Oklahoma City 0 - 0 - 2 - 4 Total=6

TOP PLAYERS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, Philadelphia 6
2. Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia 5
3. Poodle "Stix" Jackson, Philadelphia 4
3. Red Reparee, Philadelphia 4



PLAYERS OF GAME
Philadelphia's four-year point guard COLQUITT CROIX finished off the regular season in fine style, notching his fourth POG, which ties Naf Naf of Charleston and YourMajesty Lumpkins of San Jose for the most in the circuit. He entered this game sixth in the guard rankings and trailing Naf for the second All-MBA guard spot 23.5 to 24.4. This effort just might put him over the top. Croix scored a game-high 24 points that included 9 for 11 shooting (a perfect 4 for 4 from deep) and 2 for 2 from the foul stripe. He also grabbed 3 boards and tied for game-high in assists with 4. Additionally, the point guard was second in the game in preventing points. He entered the game needing 27 points to tie Naf for the scoring title, falling just 3 points short. This gives Croix a 19.7 ppg scoring average, the first time in his career he has not reached 20 per game. It also makes him runner-up for the scoring crown to Naf for the fourth consecutive season.

Philadelphia power forward SLOPPY DOLLOP returned to the familiar environs of Oklahoma City for the first time in this game along with teammate Akbar Zagobia. Dollop gave his old fans a painful reminder of what they were missing. The fourth-year, 6-7 leaper scored 17 points grabbed a team-high 6 boards, dished a game-high (tied) 4 assists, stole a game-high (tied) 2 and blocked a game-high 2 shots. He was 8 for 14 from the floor, including 5 high-flying dunks , while going 1 for 1 at the foul stripe. He came into the game needing 2 steals to tie Potus Obama of Sacramento for the steals championship, with both ending up with 10. He was also outstanding on defense in this game as the top player at preventing points in the contest.

Other 20-Plus GVP performers
-- Shooting guard Brownie McShytles of Oklahoma City had a fine game against his old club, scoring 15 points, grabbing 2 rebounds and handing out a team-best (tied) 3 assists.
-- Second-year power forward Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson continues to out-play preseason expectations, getting 15 points, grabbing 2 boards, getting 1 assist, 1 block and tying for game-high with 2 steals.
-- Forward Bang-Bang Reiner of Oklahoma City solidified his first All-MBA foil star with a performance that included a team-high 16 points, a game-high 8 rebounds, a team-high (tied) 3 assists and 1 steal. He came into the game third in the league in scoring, needing 25 points to overtake Naf Naf for the league's top forward spot.

Game Notes: Diss Reflexia's first game back from injury was not good enough to overtake Hunk R. Down of San Jose as All-MBA center. But Philly is happy to have him back all the same.
The cross-over win by Philadelphia gives a final commanding tally of 7-3 in wins vs. losses for the East Division.
Finally, in his final campaign, Oklahoma City point guard Mel A. Noma need 3 assists to tie forward Wawa Wewa of Charleston for the assists title. He was able to procure just that many, giving him a second such individual championship. It also marks the first time in the 43-season history of the league that a non-guard (Wewa) won an assist title.

FINAL STANDINGS

East Division (no changes since last bracket)
1st -- Philadelphia 9-1 (predicted 2nd)
2nd -- Chicago 7-3 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Dallas 6-4 (predicted 3rd)
4th -- Charleston 5-5 (ended with 3-game winning streak) (predicted 1st)
Last --Milwaukee 0-10 (second team ever to go without a victory) (predicted last)

West Division
1st -- San Jose 8-2 (predicted 1st)
2nd -- Oklahoma City 5-5 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Los Angeles 4-6 (division wins tie-breaker) (up from 4th) (predicted 2nd)
4th -- Sacramento 4-6 (down from 3rd) (predicted 3rd)
Last -- Seattle 2-8 (predicted last)

Featured Game...Oklahoma City at San Jose...and a big HOLD ON FOLKS

San Jose 81, Oklahoma City 68
SAN JOSE'S PERFECT QUARTER SINKS THE LARIATS
SAN JOSE -- The first-place San Jose Fighting Amigos made the first 17 shots they attempted on the way to dispatching second-place Oklahoma City 81-68 tonight. To the delight of the home team crowd, the Amigos made all 14 of their first quarter shots on the way to a 31-11 lead at the first buzzer. They then proceeded to make three more in a row at the start of the second quarter before San Jose guard Dayshotta Leo finally missed a 3-pointer.

Incredibly, Oklahoma City and a defense that prevented 23 San Jose points, came within eight points of the eventual winners in the final quarter before finally losing by 13.

The win gives San Jose a 7-2 record and a season sweep over the Lariats, who they beat the first meeting 106-77 in the only triple-digit total game this season. It also makes Los Amigos 7-0 against division foes, one win away from matching Philadelphia's perfect division record in the East (8-0).

PLAYER OF GAME
It's been a magical season for San Jose point guard YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, who in this game became the league's first player to earn four POG honors this season. The silky smooth Lumpkins scored a game-high 22 in this game, despite having 10 of his points prevented by the defense of Oklahoma City's Theon Greyjoy. The 6-2 sixth-year man was 8 for 14 from the floor, going 3 for 6 from deep and 3 for 5 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 3 boards, dished out 2 assists and added 1 steal. He entered this game slightly ahead of three players for All-MBA honors (Colquitt Croix of Philly, Dayshotta Leo also of the Amigos and the charging Naf Naf of Charleston). This game will do him more good than harm. Rookie guard Dr. Marcus Brody of Los Angeles seems secure in the top guard spot for All-MBA.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
San Jose's steady two guard Dayshotta Leo scored 17 points and led everyone in the game with 7 rebounds, while getting 1 assist and 1 blocked shot.

San Jose small forward Mike Hunt stayed right with All-MBA candidate Bang-Bang Reiner all game long. The 6-5 Hunt scored 16 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, led his team in assists with 5, and tied for game-high in steals with 1.

Oklahoma City two guard Brownie McShytles led his team in scoring with 19 points, even out-scoring the man his card most emulates, Dayshotta Leo. The third-year man ("Little Leo" some call him) added 5 boards.

Power forward Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson of Oklahoma City continued his season-long solid play with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and a game-high 2 blocked shots.

Star forward Bang-Bang Reiner of Oklahoma City scored 13 points, tied for team-high in rebounds with 6 and dished out 2 assists. Entering the game as the league's top scorer, Reiner (now at 19.4 ppg) is now slightly behind Big Bill Cull of Chicago (20 per game).

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTER
Oklahoma City 2 - 9 - 10 - 2 Total=23
San Jose 2 - 0 - 4 - 4 Total=10

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS POINTS PREVENTED
1. Theon Greyjoy, Oklahoma City 10 (off the bench)
2. Willie Carry McCoffee, Oklahoma City 4
2. Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson, Oklahoma City 4



WEST STANDINGS (no changes since last bracket)
1st -- San Jose 7-2 (clinched first in West)
2nd -- Oklahoma City 5-4
3rd -- Sacramento 4-5
4th -- Los Angeles 3-6
Last -- Seattle 2-7

NEXT UP: Milwaukee (0-8) at Charleston (3-5) in the second-to-last game of Naf Naf's illustrious career. First of two meetings between these teams to end season. Greyhounds could become second team ever to go the distance without a victory.

AND HERE IS THE BIG HOLD ON
It seems that yours truly prematurely pronounced the patient, the Sacramento team, dead Dogs.
Upon further review of the standings, we have found the slightest pulse that allows them the faintest of hope for a playoff spot.
Sacramento is 4-5 with 3 division wins.
The team they are chasing, Oklahoma City, is 5-4 with 4 division wins.
Should Sacramento somehow beat first-place San Jose in the final game of their season, they would be 5-5 with 4 division wins.
And should Oklahoma City lose its final game against Philadelphia, they would also be 5-5 with 4 division wins.
They would be tied in record and in the first tie-breaker (division wins).
That would take us to the second tie-breaker, head-to-head games. And since the teams split their two games this season, they would still be tied.
That would bring us to the third tie-breaker, point differential.
As of now, Oklahoma City has a point differential of negative 0.2
As of now, Sacramento has a point differential of negative 1.8
This means that the River Dogs would not only have to beat San Jose while Oklahoma City loses to Philadelphia, but that Sacramento would have to make up its point differential beyond that of Oklahoma City in the process. This is not altogether impossible, since Philadelphia could very well murder Oklahoma City.
Well, anyway, there you have it.
In a nutshell, Sacramento has to beat San Jose on the last game of the season in order to have a chance at making the playoffs. This should satiate those MBA fans who may have been less than satisfied in having Sacramento bow out of the picture one game earlier than is their usual pattern.
We apologize for the error, but hope that being able to vilify the R-Dogs one more time will more than make up for the mistake.
By the way, San Jose just barely beat Sacramento in their prior meeting, 63-62.