- HWULA
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Re: Good If It Goes: The Story of the OBA
1989 Regular Season
Unlike the previous season, which had multiple 30+ win teams, only one squad clearly stood above the rest - The Team of the River Galloway. Stanley Sweetney eclipsed his second MVP award, leading the league in both scoring and rebounds. He was aided by the surprising rookie Tavian Jarvis in their efforts to claim the top spot from the rest of the league.
The defending champions had a noticeably improved regular season compared to 1988. Horace Suggs and Clarence Poole made for one of the most entertaining duos to watch. Despite slipping to third, the Simeka Sleuths remained a force to be reckoned with. They came together with more of a focus on off-ball movement and stout defense. Thanks to Byron No, Ibrahim Mohammed and Otis Carter having healthy seasons, the Gin City Porkers made their return to the fourth seed. They are considered a threat, as they ended the season on a 10-game winning streak.
Tyrone Buckley put together another stellar campaign, improving the Dachshunds seeding position by two. Ish Anderson carried the Murdlock Monocles with his own phenomenal season, earning First Team honors. In Boothtown, Aaron Batista proved to fans why he was so sought after coming into the league. Batista is only in his third season, and has notched a First Team nomination.
The competition for the #8 seed was tight at the very end. Dovinwitt was on their way to another incredible season. However, major injuries hampered their chances. The Louds became much more vulnerable from there, going 3-7 in their final ten games. By virtue of the +/- tiebreaker, they rode their early success to the final spot. Luva was unable to surpass the Louds, despite a strong season; the Mountaineers struggled defensively throughout the year. Nachtigen also showed steady progress, posting a winning season for the first time. Byron Jackson became one of the most exciting young prospects to observe. Keep in mind - the Titans finished in dead last just three years prior. The final team involved in the tiebreaker was The Bay, whose offense looked down in comparison to the previous years' sharpshooting performances.
The Ensylvan Drakes fell out of the playoffs this year, as Javen McFoster III suffered a gruesome knee injury towards the end. The Mescudi Moonmen were middle-of-the-road, and Hitts Weckerthaul appears to be on the final strides of his illustrious career. Watchful eyes will be peering to the newspapers in the offseason, checking every day if the future Hall-of-Famer will call it quits.
The Murdlock Razors, Bara Cudas, and McQuelsey Woodpeckers stumbled their way throughout the season, battling injuries practically the whole way through. However, Bryson McMurray used these injuries to essentially stat-pad his way to a First Team nod. The City Van East Sunrisers were the most shocking team in the league, with an absolute collapse in the middle of the season. The Sunrisers plummeted from the third seed in 1988 to posting an 18th place finish in 1989. The Irving Crows also disappointed, dropping an additional six games from the year prior.
Novak Junction had a poor year, although Harlow Rivers enjoyed a strong statistical explosion. Veñuto, Remolvo, and Convenance all had horrible years, but none quite as grotesque as the Irving Ricos. Fans around the whole country have started referring to the franchise as "Little Brother Rico," comparing the lack of success to that of the Crows. It was pathetic.
1989 All-OBA Teams
1989 Playoffs
#1 The Team of the River Galloway vs. #8 Dovinwitt Louds
The Louds dwindled from top spot to bottom spot, and their hopes of advancing in the playoffs look grim. Stanley Sweetney and new castmate Tavian Jarvis stand in the way of a monumental upset. Can the Louds keep it close? Will The Team assert their dominance on their way to the semifinals?
#4 Gin City Porkers vs. #5 Desherd City Dachshunds
This might be the most fun game of the first round. Tyrone Buckley? Byron No? Ibrahim Mohammed? Otis Carter? Yes please. Must-watch TV as the Porkers will look to extend their hot streak. Can Gin City ride their late-season success to a championship? Will Desherd City avenge their OCS Finals loss?
#3 Simeka Sleuths vs. #6 Murdlock Monocles
Regular season success has yet to translate to playoff prominence for the Sleuths. This is their fifth straight finish in the top three; they have only missed the playoffs once - their first season in existence. Will they be able to change the tide against the Monocles? Can Ish Anderson and Io October lead the underdogs to put the Sleuths back in familiar territory?
#2 Soup vs. #7 Boothtown Mobsters
The fan favorite Soup is establishing themselves as a perennial threat after winning two consecutive championships. Will they be able to turn this into a true dynasty? Will Aaron Batista dominate inside to upset the defending champions?
1989. Playoff. Time. Is. Here!!!!!!
Last edited by HWULA (5/14/2024 12:47 pm)
- HWULA
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Re: Good If It Goes: The Story of the OBA
1989 First Round
#1 The Team of the River Galloway 88, #8 Dovinwitt Louds 86
Simply put, despite the victory, the Team is in trouble. With just two minutes to go in the first half, they held a 24-point lead over the Louds. On the court, it looked as noncompetitive as a #1 vs. #8 playoff matchup has looked. At that point, league MVP Stanley Sweetney went up to grab a rebound and landed horribly without contacting anyone around him. Immediately, he was wincing and writhing on the ground. It was clear it was a knee injury, and a serious one at that. It was confirmed after the game that Sweetney would be missing at least the remainder of the playoffs. While Dovinwitt clawed their way back into the game in the second half, ultimately it was too much to overcome. In place of Sweetney, rookie Tavian Jarvis carried the load for the Team with 27 points and seven rebounds.
#4 Gin City Porkers 103, #5 Desherd City Dachshunds 84
What an offensive explosion in Gin City!!! Byron No left earth in a phenomenal performance, netting 48 points, five rebounds and three assists. He was a walking highlight reel, collecting steals, slamming dunks, and swishing triples. Ibrahim Mohammed was also remarkable with 25 points and 13 boards of his own. The Porkers were unstoppable and looked like they belong among the elite franchises. While Tyrone Buckley got it going for the Dachshunds (24 points, nine assists), he did not receive much help as the Dachshunds fell in the first round.
#3 Simeka Sleuths 76, #6 Murdlock Monocles 78
I don't know how much more heartbreak Simeka supporters can withstand. The Monocles kept it close all game and snatched the victory out of the Sleuths' hands at the last second. Simeka led 76-74 with a few ticks remaining on the clock. Murdlock's Io October was fouled as he heaved a 35-foot shot from downtown that rimmed out, bounced off the backboard, and fell back through. October sunk the free free throw and cemented the victory for the Monocles. He finished with 21 points in the upset.
#2 Soup 86, #7 Boothtown Mobster 83
Despite the Aaron Batista show being broadcast nationwide, the defending champion Soup came out on top. Clarence Poole struggled to stop Batista from scoring - Batista ended the night with 37 - but he contributed 23 points of his own for Soup. It seemed as if the Boothtown star was going to bully his way to buckets, one way or another. Horace Suggs also showed out for Soup, dishing out 15 assists to go along with 18 points. Soup led for most of the game, but it was tightly contested for all 40 minutes. Two clutch defensive stops allowed for Soup to seal the deal, advancing to their third consecutive semifinals.
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#1 The Team of the River Galloway vs. #4 Gin City Porkers
Bluntly, the Team is coming into this game as the underdog. Without Stanley Sweetney, they will need to find a source of offensive power and defensive tenacity. It's a tall task for rookie Tavian Jarvis to lead a team for a full game on his own. Additionally, they saw how frighteningly effective the Porkers were on both ends in the first round. Can The Team dominate without the help of their superstar Sweetney? Will the Porkers reign victorious as the underseeded favorite?
#2 Soup vs. #6 Murdlock Monocles
The Monocles had to scrap to piece together a first round victory over the favored Simeka Sleuths. Io October's heroics might not last them for another game, especially for a date with the defending champions fast approaching. Will Soup try to go for a 3-peat? Will Murdlock magic touch the court once more?
It's time for the semifinals!!!!!
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Thread Starter- QCS
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Re: Good If It Goes: The Story of the OBA
Let's Go Soup!!!!!
