Season 53 Finals Championship Game...Game 5...Oklahoma City at Dallas

 DALLAS 85, OKLAHOMA CITY 76 (Overtime)

DEMONS WIN O.T. THRILLER

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons, trailing by as many as 7 points with 47 ticks left in the game and by 4 points with 12 left, sent the game to overtime on a last-second 3-point play by Pete "the Steakman" Marzano, then dominated the extra session to win their second consecutive MBA championship, 85-76.

The two MBA owners, Dave and Tyler, agree that this was the most competitive finale in the 53-season history of the league.

The victory gives Dallas its seventh franchise championship, which ties Milwaukee for second-most in league history with Milwaukee. Philadelphia's ridiculous total of 16 leads the way.

The Demons' intrepid guard, Juzan Djinn, moved to the point for the first time all season, led the way with one of the most productive and clutch performances ever witnessed on a tabletop anywhere. The fourth-year superstar scored 36 points, potting buckets from every zone on the court to lead the way to the title.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City, missing its best player, King Czardines, not only put up an unexpectedly spirited championship game battle, but appeared at more than one point in the fourth quarter to be on its way to victory. 

But once the game got into overtime, the pedigree of the Dallas Demons showed through in dominant fashion.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

45 GVP...A clear-cut winner of Playoff MVP for the second consecutive season, Dallas Demons guard JUZAN DJINN delivered one timely bucket after another on a 15-for-20 shooting day that included 5 of 9 3-point buckets, numerous blow-bys to the hoop, medium js and short pull-ups for a game-high 36-points. (He was 1 for 2 from the foul line). The 6-2 Djinn also blocked a game-high 4 shots, grabbed 3 rebounds and had 2 assists in a clutch performance for the ages.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Despite being guarded by one of the premier defenders in the game (Djinn), Oklahoma City veteran Handsy Joe Potatoe had an outstanding championship game, tying for team-high in scoring with 18 points that included a quartet of bombs from downtown. The 6-5 guard swooped in for a game-high 5 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and added a pair of assists. 

21 GVP...Stymied for much of the contest, small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano came on strong late in the game to finish with 16 points, including that previously described 3-point hoop at the end of regulation to tie the score. The second-season star added 3 blocked shots and 2 rebounds to the championship cause.

21 GVP...Subbing for the injured Czardines, 6-6 third-year guard Ol' Roy of Oklahoma City showed up big in this title contest, scoring 13 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, leading his team with 3 assists and swiping 1 steal. 

NEXT UP: Tallying the playoff statistics and officially announcing the Playoff MVP.

Season 53 Finals Game 4...Dallas at Oklahoma City

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.

Season 53 Finals...Game 3...Oklahoma City at Dallas

 DALLAS 81, OKLAHOMA CITY 77 (Demons lead 2-1)

DEMONS WIN INJURY-PLAGUED CONTEST

DALLAS -- In a game that saw three key players (two for Dallas) leave the contest with injuries, the defending champion Blue Demons came from behind to defeat Oklahoma City 81-77.

First, Dallas center Biggus Dickus was felled in the first quarter and lost for the remainder of the game. At that point, things were looking up for Oklahoma City, who had a chance to win the game against short-handed Dallas, which would have left them just one win away from a major championship upset.

But, as has too often been the case, that glimmer of hope was snuffed in the second quarter when Oklahoma City's best player, King Czardines, went down for the count with a season-ending injury that eliminates him from the rest of the Finals. 

Still, Oklahoma City led 38-35 at the half, and when Dallas superstar guard Juzan Djinn left the game in the third quarter with yet another injury. The Lariats finished strong to lead 58-51 going into the fourth.

But Dallas got huge lifts off the bench by P.D. Jazz (11 points) and center Izzy Mandelbaum (12 points) to cut into the Lariats' lead. And when league MVP Pete Marzano scored 7 consecutive points down the stretch, Oklahoma City had no counter punch and came up a loser.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Oklahoma City...4...0...3...2   Total=9

Dallas.................2...7...0...2    Total=11

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

Both Handsy Joe Potatoe of Oklahoma City and Juzan Djinn of Dallas prevented 5 points each.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO, the regular season MVP, came up HUGE for Dallas in the most crucial part of the ballgame, three times tying the game with clutch buckets on the way to a game-high 20 points that dominated his position. Before fouling out with 4 ticks left, the second-year forward went 9 for 11 from the floor (including a dunk over a blocked shot), tied for game-high in rebounds with 5, tied for game-high in blocked shots with 2 and tied for team-high in assists with 2. This was his second POG of the playoffs.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

21 GVP...Rookie forward Phillip Mianus of Oklahoma City dominated his power forward position, scoring a team-high 15 pooints, tying for game-high in boards with 5 and blocking 1 shot.

20 GVP...Dallas point guard Kopi Luwak buried 3 treys on the way to a 15-point game in which he also contributed 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

20 GVP...Playing just a bit more than half a game before his injury, Dallas guard Juzan Djinn still scored more points (16) than anyone on Oklahoma City, tied for most points prevented (5), tied for most blocked shots (2) and added 1 rebound and 1 assist.

20 GVP...Oklahoma City center Chochky Galumpkus was licking his chops at the prospect of going against the backup center for Dallas when Biggus Dickus went down. Although he scored 14 points, tied for most rebounds in the game with 5 and blocked 1 shot, the veteran needed to (and was expected) to do more considering the opportunity that was presented.

NEXT UP: It's back to Oklahoma City for Game 4 of the Finals, with Dallas needing just one win to repeat as MBA champions. Winning two in a row over the Whiz Kids is a tall order. Winning two in a row without their best player seems next to impossible. 

Season 53 Finals...Game 2...Dallas at Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY 86, DALLAS 72 (Series tied 1-1)

LARIATS GET EVEN

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Playing before a hyped up home crowd that had not seen a Finals game in seven seasons, the Oklahoma City Lariats roped, flipped and hog-tied the seemingly invincible Dallas Demons 86-72 to even this Finals series at one game each.

Oklahoma City got off to a smoking hot start, scoring 29 points in the first quarter to take a 12-point lead that they never gave up. Shooting 61.9 percent for the game, they led by 10 with 17 ticks remaining in the first quarter, then continued to up that advantage to as much as 25 points in the third quarter. 

The Lariats scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter, but it was more than enough to coast home with the triumph. The win put an end to the Demons' four-game winning streak.

Despite losing by 14, Dallas still shot a more-than-respectable 60 percent as a team.

Oklahoma City controlled the boards in this win, 21-11.

These two Finals teams have now split the four games they have played in Season 53. The Whiz Kids are still the favorites, but the championship round just got a hell of a lot more interesting. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

28 GVP...Although his team came up on the short end of things, Dallas shooting guard JUZAN DJINN was the POG for the second time in as many Finals games. Djinn again led both clubs in scoring, putting up a 21-point effort in chich he was 8 for 13 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep) and 4 of 5 from the foul line. The stalwart defender again led in blocked shots with 6, adding 1 rebound for good measure. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Lariat's rookie power forward Phillip Mianus dominated Al A. Orden for the second game in a row, holding the Dallas veteran to just 4 points while scoring 17 himself. Mianus tied for team-high in blocked shots with 3, grabbed 5 boards and assisted 2 times.

25 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard King Czardines led the way in scoring for the Lariats with 20 points while tying for team-high in assists with 3. He added 2 rebounds.

24 GVP...The big 7-footer for Dallas, second-year man Biggus Dickus, had a fine offensive game with 18 poiints. He also grabbed 3 boards, blocked 1 shot, assisted 1 time and registered 1 steal.

23 GVP...His performance, good or bad, is a bit of a bellweather for the Lariats against a quality team like Dallas.  And six-year man Handsy Joe Potatoe, playing under control, scored 16 points despite the defense of Juzan Djinn, tied for team-high in assists with 3, grabbed 3 rebounds and blocked 1 shot. 

23 GVP...Dallas' All-MBA point guard Kopi Luwak splashed home five 3-pointers on the way to a 19-point game. He also contributed 3 assists and 1 rebound. 

21 GVP...Oklahoma City's 7-1 center Chochky Galumpkus gathered in a game-high 7 rebnounds, tied for team-high in blocked shots with 3, scored 10 points and had 1 assist in this major triumph. 

NEXT UP: Back to Dallas with the Finals series tied at one game each.

 

Season 53 Finals...Game 1...Oklahoma City at Dallas

GAME 1...DALLAS 82, OKLAHOMA CITY 76

DEMONS OUTLAST LARIATS 

DALLAS -- The defending champion Dallas Demons, behind a combined 52 points from its All-MBA guard combo, held off a plucky effort by the visiting Oklahoma City Lariats to win Game 1 of the Season 53 Finals 82-76.

The first Finals meeting between these two longtime members of the MBA was a close and spirited affair, which will now go back to Oklahoma City, where the Lariats hope to even things up in this best of five championship series.

Tempers were short in this one right from the start. Oklahoma City coach Grady Booch was hit with a technical foul early in the first quarter when he thought his center Chochky Galumpkus was manhandled by center Biggus Dickus of Dallas. Then, just after the horn went off to end the third quarter, Toilety T. Paper of Oklahoma City attempted to wipe the floor with Dickus, resulting in technical fouls for both players.

Dallas led 54-52 heading into a high-octane fourth quarter, kicking their impressive offense into gear, scoring 28 points. Oklahoma City gave a good account of itself as well, scoring 24. The biggest buckets by Dallas at crunch time came on back-to-back possessions, each overcoming defensive blocks by Oklahoma City. First was a slam dunk by league MVP Pete Marzano over the block of Buba Lipa, followed by a long 3-point swish by Juzan Djinn over the block of Handsy Joe Potatoe. 

The Lariats fired up an astonishing 68 shots, staying in the contest via a sheer number of attempts, as their shooting percentage was just 48.5.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

40 GVP...Last season's Playoff MVP JUZANN DJINN of Dallas is looking to repeat that title again. He came into the Finals as the top scorer, averaging 20.5 per game and proceeded to destroy the hopes of a Lariats' upset with a 30-point performance. The fourth-year star thwarted shot after shot by his man, Handsy Joe Potatoe, ending with a game-high 5 blocked shots. The 6-2 guard added 3 rebounds and 2 assists, going 11 for 16 from the floor and potting 3 of 5 long-range treys. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Djinn's All-MBA running mate, Kopi Luwak was second in the game in scoring with a 22-point effort that included a trio of treys. The second-year, 6-2  guard also tied for game-high in rebounds with 6 and assisted 2 times. 

27 GVP...Second-year All-MBA forward Pete Marzano dominated his man Buba Lipa, scoring 15 po9ints, blocking 4 shots, tying for game-high in rebounds with 6, assisting 1 and stealing 1. 

27 GVP...Despite sitting for 49 time units in the third quarter from a forced rest, Oklahoma City rookie forward Phillip Mianus put together some fine stats, scoring a team-high 21 points, blocking a team-high 3 shots, grabbing 2 boards and handing out 1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas' 7-foot center Biggus Dickus continues to contribute mightily to Demons victories. In this one he used his fine passing skills to hand out a game-high 5 assists. He scored 11 points, grabbed 3 boards and blocked 2 shots.

21 GVP...Oklahoma City's excellent point guard King Czardines scored 13 points, passed out a team-high 4 assists, grabbed 3 rebounds and added 1 steal in the loss. 

 

Season 53 Playoffs...Semifinals Game 2...Gillette at Oklahoma City

 OKLAHOMA CITY 90, GILLETTE 62

LARIATS TO FINALS IN STYLE

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With its fans shouting "We want Dallas!" as early as the third quarter, the Oklahoma City Lariats destroyed the Gillette Humps 90-62 and will now face the Whiz Kids of Dallas in the Season 53 Finals. 

This marks the first time the Lariats have made it to the Finals since they completed back-to-back championships in Seasons 40 and 41 twelve seasons ago. It's also the first time they have made it to the Finals since moving from the West Divsion to the East Division in Season 48.

This marks the second year in a row the Finals will feature two teams from the East. 

It will also be the first time in MBA history that Dallas and Oklahoma City will square off for the MBA championship.

The teams met twice during the regular season, each winning once. Dallas pounded the Lariats 100-68 behind the POG of Juzan Djinn; the only 100-point game of the regular season. But Oklahoma City turned around and dealt the Demons one of its two regular season losses, nipping them 63-62 as co-POGs King Czardines of Oklahoma City and Kopi Luwak of Dallas powered their respective clubs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

29 GVP...Earning his second POG of the playoffs in as many games, Oklahoma City point guard KING CZARDINES registered a game-high 25 points in this Semis clincher, going 10 for 15 from the floor, including dropping in 4 bombs in 6 attempts. He was also 1 for 2 at the foul line, assisted 2 times and came up with 1 steal. The fourth-year guard will again go up against All-MBA, league-leading scorer Kopi Luwak in the upcoming finals which should be a doozy of a duel.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Nearly matching Czardines point for point, Gillette's second-year point guard Joey "Joe-Joe" Shamadu, Jr. was brilliant in defeat, leading his team in scoring with 21 points, hitting on 5 of 9 shots from beyond the arc. He added 1 rebound and 1 assist.

22 GVP...Oklahoma City's rookie power forward Phillip Mianus demonstrated why he led the league in blocked shots, swatting away a game-high 5 Gillette attempts while scoring 14 poinits. He added 2 rebounds and 1 steal.

22 GVP...The other Lariats' forward, Buba Lipa, contributed 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist to the winning effort.

20 GVP...Billy "Be-bop" Bauer of Gillette pulled down a game-high 6 rebounds from his forward position, blocked a team-high 4 shots and scored 10 points.

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City travels to Dallas for Game 1 of the Season 53 MBA Finals, where the defending champion Demons are the decided favorites to repeat.

Season 53...Playoff Semifinals Game 2...Dallas at Seattle

 

DALLAS 89, SEATTLE 59

DEMONS HEAD TO FINALS

SEATTLE -- The defending champion Dallas Demons out-scored the Seattle Stampede 46-21 in the second half on the way to an easy, breezy 89-59 triumph, earning them a return trip to the MBA Finals.

Seattle, which shot a paltry 42.9 percent from the floor, thanks in large part to Dallas defense, was down by just 5 points at the half before the Demons put their game into another gear.

The Demons shot over 60 percent for the second game in a row, following a 63.3 effort with a 63.9 percent mark in this victory.

They now await the winner of the Oklahoma City vs. Gillette series to play for the championship.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

37 GVP -- League MVP during the regular season, second-year Dallas forward PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO put himself out there for the double-distinction Playoff MVP honor with this gem. The 6-8 Marzano absolutely destroyed his man, Doodly Squat, holding the top scorer of Seattle to just 8 points while tying for game-high scoring honors himself. Marzano scored 22 points on 10 of 12 shooting hitting from medium, short and low with equal aplomb. He added a couple of dunks and was 2 of 3 from the foul line. Additionally, the All-MBA forward pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds, tied for game-high with 3 blocked shots, handed out 3 assists and registered 1 steal. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

32 GVP...Dallas superstar Juzan Djinn followed his Game 1 19-point effort with a game-high (tied) 22 points in this one, dominating Fuck Mountain in the process. The 6-2 shooting guard held Mountain to 5 measely points, grabbed 6 boards, tied for most blocked shots in the contest with 3 and assisted 1 time. 

24 GVP...Seattle power forward Frog Morton led his team in scoring in both playoff games, getting a team-high 17 in this one while grabbing 5 boards and handing out 2 assists.

23 GVP...The MBA's top scorer, Kopi Luwak of Dallas finished with 17 points in both playoff wins, draining 3 treys in this SemiFinals clincher. He led his team with 4 assists and pulled down 2 rebounds.

21 GVP...Seattle stalwart Sky Masterson managed 13 points and led his team with 7 caroms, adding 1 assist.

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City, playing at home, looks to dispose of Gillette and join Dallas for a predicted Finals appearance.

Below is the outstanding new MBA surface designed for tabletop play by Tyler Masterson and gifted to Dave Masterson for Christmas. Used for this game for the first time. The cubes of chance roll like a dream on this.