OBA Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of 1983
Prior to the OCS Finals, the Hall of Fame was opened for the very first time. The Hall of Origin will feature some of the players who carried the OBA through its opening years. The players are as follows:






Congratulations to the Class of 1983!!

1984 Offseason
The Table in The Back Room of The Bar of The River Galloway was jovial at the offseason meetings for numerous reasons. For one, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony was a smashing success. Over 10,000 people were in attendance, and the event lasted no longer than 2:30. Pretty good for the amount of speeches that they needed to get through!

Further expansion on the horizon - With the exception of the first season in Bara, each new team finished in the green every year. A big reason for that first Bara season operating slightly in the red was the major undertaking of a large infrastructure project that limited traffic near the Bara Plaza. With that context considered, the league unanimously voted to approve of adding teams to compete in the 1985 season. No cities have been outright selected as of yet, but, rest assured, that will be decided on before the 1984 OCS Finals. A set number has not been decided on either, but the league is hoping for at least four new teams.

The meetings were catered by TacoTown.

 

Looking good, this is some exciting stuff you got here! Keep it up!

1984 Quarterfinals

#1 Remolvo Choristers 92, #8 Boothtown Mobsters 66
Navon Oren had himself a game for the Mobsters. He scored 43 of his team's 66 points. While that is an incredible individual performance... it certainly isn't going to get the job done against the best team in the league. The rest of the Mobsters' shots clanked off the iron at an embarrassing rate. Meanwhile, not even Oren would be able to stop the explosive offense of the Choristers. Remolvo pushed the pace effectively. Most possessions went like this:

- Boothtown missed shot.
- Remolvo rebound (more than likely Harlow Rivers).
- 30-foot pass to a screaming player (more than likely Rivers or Michael Williams).
- Remolvo makes layup.
- Wash, rinse, and repeat.

As far as a statement goes... yeah... Remolvo wasn't messing around in their opener.

#4 The Bay Bishops 72, #5 Luva Mountaineers 71
A CLASSIC was held at the Green Center in The Bay. Sinclair Journey, sporting his trademark floppy man-bun into a ponytail, dazzled as he had done for most of his career. The first four baskets for the Mountaineers came courtesy of Journey, and it looked like he was set to continue his incredible string of playoff success. However, John Hamilton had other plans, as he led the charge back. At half, the score was tied at 38. Hamilton refused to miss from long range, moving about quickly off-ball to get his open shots. Tied at 69 with a minute left, the Bishops doubled Journey and left a cutting Freddy Duncan to receive a flashy pass and lay the basketball in. The clock was fast winding down, as the Bishops called their final timeout to draw up a play. Here is the transcript of the KBAY radio call for the final possession. This call comes courtesy of Mickey "the Microphone" Mullhollow:

"Welcome back to 99.9FM KBAY. If you're just tuning in, boy oh boy you've missed a game for the ages. Luva's Freddy Duncan just laid in an open shot about five feet from the rim to put the Mountaineers up 71-69. The Bay blitzed Sinclair Journey, as I would have done had I been out there, considering Journey has 33 points and Duncan has had a relatively quiet game. No matter; what's done is done. The Bishops break the huddle and they have 16 seconds to put up a good shot. Hamilton to inbound the ball to Junior Black. Here's the roll and Black picks it up just before half-court. Hamilton is racing around some screens, Black still with the ball. Black gives it up to Hamilton. Eight seconds left. Journey guarding Hamilton... left dribble.. crossover... he goes in to atta- NO! He leaps back... fades away... shots up... THE HAMMER!!!!!! THE HAMMER!!!!!!! HAMILTON'S SHOT CIRCLES AROUND THE RIM, BOUNCES OUT OFF THE BACKBOARD AND IT BOUNCES BACK IN!!!! DID HE GET BEHI- HE DID!! THE OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED! THREE-POINT BASKET FOR THE HAMMER! HAMILTON SENDS THE BISHOPS TO THE SECOND ROUND!!!!"

One for the ages indeed, Mr. Microphone. One for the ages indeed.

#3 The Team of the River Galloway 71, #6 Simeka Sleuths 86
Once again, Simeka is home to Cinderella!! The Sleuths pulled off the upset, thanks to the exceptional play of Sol Renfro. While Brody Rizzo was also great - 24 points and seven assists - it was Renfro who ascended his game. He would be the second-leading scorer of the playoffs - only Boothtown's Navon Oren scored more - with an even 40. Marlin Drew fell short of a coveted championship run and a good performance. The crafty veteran finished the game with only 12 points on 3/12 shooting. Stanley Sweetney played well, netting 29 points for The Team in the losing effort. It's tough to overcome a 40-point performance from the second-best player on any team, let alone one with as good of chemistry as Simeka. The Sleuths advance to the second round as the sixth seed for the second consecutive year.

#2 Gin City Porkers 88, #7 McQuelsey Woodpeckers 81
The Porkers had an offensive explosion as well. As predicted, Byron No dominated for Gin City. He netted 28 points on an efficient clip while being guarded by the best perimeter defender in the league. However, Bryson McMurray was no slouch for the Woodpeckers with 32 points and three steals. Gin City controlled the tempo for most of the game. Late in the second half, McQuelsey brought the lead down to one point after they had been down by as much as 11. Ibrahim Mohammed had two massive dunks and made another four free throws - incredible considering his 53% mark from the charity stripe - to seal the deal for the Porkers. Gin City wins their first playoff game in team history!

#1 Remolvo Choristers vs. #4 The Bay Bishops
It would be a tall task for the Bishops to continue their magic show against the Choristers. For as intimidating as Remolvo was all year, that only increased with their overpowering play in the first round against Boothtown. The Choristers, though, don't shoot the ball as well from distance as The Bay. John Hamilton is on fire and looking to extend the flame ignition to an OCS Finals appearance. Will Remolvo prove to be too much for the Bishops? Can The Bay hold it down just enough on the defensive end to pull off yet another miracle?

#2 Gin City Porkers vs. #6 Simeka Sleuths
The Sleuths find themselves in an almost identical situation as the year before. After winning their first round game against a tough opponent, they have to travel to make another attempt at taking down the #2 seed. This time, however, it will be a much improved and matured Gin City team. Byron No has put on a spectacle in his best season yet. He and Ibrahim Mohammed have an older-younger-brother-from-another chemistry that is tangible and unrivaled by perhaps anyone else in the league. If there is a tandem that can rival it, it certainly could be the Sleuths The Porkers know what Simeka can do. Any one of Brody Rizzo, Sol Renfro or Esteban Grover can go off on a given night. Which of these teams will make their first OCS Finals appearance? Will it be the Porkers that have long experienced the growing pains? Will it be the youthful and bubbly Sleuths, beloved by fans and embraced as the lovable underdog?

The semifinals are fast approaching...

#1 Remolvo Choristers 55. #2 Gin City Porkers 74
Um...

There has only been one OCS Finals with a larger margin of victory. That was in 1978 when Andre Oz's The Team of the River Galloway defeated The Bay Bishops by 28.

It was an absolute display of dominance from start to finish for the Porkers. It was unbelievably embarrassing for the Choristers. Everyone around the country tuned in to watch one of the most highly-anticipated Finals in years. Instead, they got a bodybag of the highest order.

Starting off with the positives - Remolvo's National Choir sang the national anthem and it was beautiful. Marvelous. Perhaps the best anthem in OCS Finals history. Possibly the best anthem in the history of singing national anthems.

On Gin City's side, they had nothing but great things going for them. Byron No led all scorers at the half with 27 points. It was absurd. Every shot - from the circus threes and the fadeaways to the contested jumpers - seemingly fell through the hoop for the Porkers star. After Gin City led by 25 at half, No only played nine minutes in the second half. He finished the game with 38 points en route to his first OCS Finals MVP award. Ibrahim Mohammed brutalized Javen McFoster III. It was, quite honestly, a bit pathetic that no one could stop the Porkers veteran. A walking double-double all year, Mohammed was no different tonight, nabbing 15 and 15. Sadly for the Porkers fans, their first championship would not be the talk of the country, as it was overshadowed by inter-team drama.

Harlow Rivers metaphorically failed to show up for the Choristers. Michael Williams didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but he was their leading scorer with 24 points. But Rivers was terrible. He made two field goals in the first half and headed into halftime with seven points, where he remained until the final buzzer. During the first half, Williams seemed to be encouraging Rivers in the huddles to keep shooting. Rivers appeared to be receiving the conversation well, nodding and fist-pounding his career-long teammate. But tensions rose in the second half; Rivers took the first shot of the second half and air-balled. From that moment onward, he was checked out on both ends. The typically twitchy, strong Rivers was letting No drive by him with ease. Rivers sat separately at the end of the bench from his teammates after he checked out for the last time, which Williams took umbrage with. After Williams called out Rivers verbally, Rivers walked back to the locker room at 5:45 and did not return to the bench.

While walking out of the building, clearly attempting to hide from the media, Rivers was discovered by one reporter. The journalist asked him about the verbal altercation.

"Mike told me I wasn't being a team player because of where I was sitting on the bench at the end of the game. He thought I had given up, which is the furthest thing from the truth, man. I was visibly frustrated with how I had played tonight. As a hooper, this is something you dream for every night. You can question how I played today. Lord knows I'm already doing it to myself. But never question my effort. Ever."

Williams response came after the game, prior to the Rivers interview.

"Listen... I love Harley man. He's my dude through and through. I'll let him sleep on things, blow off some steam, and then I'll reach out to him sometime tomorrow. He's a hard worker and a hell of a basketball player. But as men, I'd like to keep this conversation between Harley and me. Thanks."

After Rivers' quote was released to the public, Williams responded with this:

"Alright well... I don't necessarily want to talk about this publicly, but because it is of public interest, I'll speak on it. The on-court conversation between Harlow and I was about leadership. Body language is a crucial communication skill, and in sport it is no different. I called his body language into question at that moment. We have a lot of young guys on the team and, perhaps more importantly, the next generation of hoopers watching us on national television. I understand we were down by 20-something at that time. I understand some days the ball doesn't go in the hoop. That day has happened for every hooper in existence. Harlow is one of the best players in the world and he had an opportunity to dig in and show people that the fight isn't over until the final bell. Between him hanging his head, crossing his arms on the bench, sitting away from teammates, and the lack of defensive tenacity we are used to seeing from him... I took it upon myself to more-or-less call him out on it.

Look... I'm not going to stand down on my love for Harlow. Dude comes in and works his butt off day in and day out. He's a great guy and a great teammate. I think unfortunately frustration got the best of him."

When asked about any communication between them following the loss:

"We had an hour-long conversation on the phone last night. Again, I don't want to get into the details because that's a private discussion between myself and Harley. But yeah, it was a good, healthy talk."

That's about the end of the drama so far between the Choristers. In the meantime... congratulations to the Gin City Porkers on their first championship! Their championship celebration banquet was catered specifically by Pearly's, the champion of the Great Gin City Grilldown.