FINNEY TAKES TWO OF THREE AT McLEAN
    The Longhorns prevailed in two of three hard fought games in McLean, dropping the first 132-118, but previaling in games two and three by 102-96 and 116-111.  In game one, the Nats 53 percent shooting, 51-28 rebounding edge, and only 11 turnovers enabled them to hold on to win.  Jerry Stackhouse had 31 and ten assists to hold off Kobe Bryant's 30.  Jalen Rose added 24.  In game two, the Longhorns used a 13 point run to tie the game at half time, then hold on agains the Nats furious comeback in the final minutes.  Once again Stackhouse outscored Kobe, 27 to 26, but 24 turnovers were too much to overcome.  In game three, the Nats held a narrow lead until Stackhouse (who again scored 30) was called for a loose ball foul with four minutes to play.  This time Kobe had 36, including the two free throws to clinch it with five seconds to play.

Miles takes two of three at home vs. Iowa

The Miles Bulldogs stumbled in Game 2 but won the sandwich games in routs before a thawing crowd at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minn.

Game 1 (Miles wins, 126-110): Miles -- despite limited action by point guard Mike Bibby due to foul trouble -- opened a 37-20 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Antonio Daniels and Doug Christie played solid at point guard as Bibby sat after picking up 2 fouls in the first 2 minutes of the game. Jeff Hornacek led 6 Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points. Antoine Walker chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Dikembe Mutombo added 10 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. Vince Carter led the Tornadoes with 32 points, and JR Rider pitched in 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Game 2 (Iowa wins, 116-115): Carter hit the game-winner in a see-saw affair. Carter and Rider each scored 21 to lead Iowa. Steve Francis added 16 points and 10 assists, while Keith Van Horn poured in 18 points and hauled down 13 rebounds. Horaceck led the Bulldogs wtih 17.

Game 3 (Miles wins 137-112): An angry Bulldog squad swept away the Tornadoes, shooting 55 percent from the floor and causing 35 Iowa turnovers en route to victory. "We don't like losing at home," said Walker, who led the hot-shooting Bulldogs with 26 points. Miles had its best game of the year from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 22 three-point attempts. On defense, the Bulldogs had 17 steals in the game, including 4 by Doug Christie. Van Horn had 30 points and Carter chipped in 28 for Iowa.

MCLEAN STUNS GALACTIC, TAKES THREE OF FOUR
    The Nationals were hanging their heads after game one.  The Thunder had blown them out 137-116.  Karl Malone had 36, but the hard part was an eleven point Galactic run to end the third period.  Galactic was only up 97-90 when Scottie Pippen hit a three, and Pippen and John Stockton each had two steals and two fastbreak baskets to blow the game open.  In addition, Galactic had 40 assists and 12 turnovers.
    In the players' meeting that followed, a couple of strategy ploys were dreamed up, which coach Bob Storey implemented in game two.  To cut down on the Thunder's outrageous passing, the Nationals pressed for the rest of the series whenever two of the fearsome trio of Stockton, Terrell Brandon, and Robert Pack were in the game.  "They are so good in the half court", explained Nick VanExel.  "At least on the press, they throw the ball away sometimes."  The Nats also swapped Jerry Stackhouse and Jalen Rose at the two and three spots so that Stackhouse got away from the suffocating defense of Pippen.  Whenever possible, Rose took Scottie inside.  He's still a good defender there, but he can be beaten.
    The strategy worked.  The Nats won game two 116-106, holding on to their 18 point lead third period lead.  Stackhouse had 35 and the Thunder's turnovers were up to 22.  Games three and four were nail biters.  The Nats won game three 125-122 (24 Thunder turnovers) with Stackhouse's 33 trumping Malone's 24 and Stockton's 19 assists.  Galactic had taken an early lead, but the Nats outscored them by 21 in the decisive second and third periods, and then held on in the fourth period to win.  And in a real shootout, the Nats took the final game 143-138, with their 19 point halftime lead almost going up in smoke.  The Nats hit 63 percent from the floor, and Stackhouse's 27 led eleven players in double figures.  Malone's 30 led seven Thunder in double figures.
    Too bad the Nats' coach couldn't figure out a way to include those strategies in the instructions for the away series!

Garden City takes 5 of 6 from Chapel Hill

Garden City took 3 straight from the hapless Chapel Hill Jams.  Game 1 was a thriller as Tim Duncan completed an old-fashioned 3 point play with 1 second on the clock to pull out a 112 - 111 win.  Games two and three stayed close
but the Gladiators prevailed 111 - 101 and 105 - 94.

Bulldogs sweep Dazzlers at home

It was "Cortisone Night" at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minn., and it was just the shot in the arm the Miles Bulldogs needed. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of cortisone by the Mayo Clinic, the Bulldogs swept the Davenport Dazzlers.

Game 1 (146-116): The Bulldogs put the game out of reach with a 47-26 second quarter, building a 26-point halftime lead. The Dazzlers, suffering from jet lag after the long flight from Davenport to Rochester, made a small run early in the fourth quarter before falling back. Glen Rice led the Bulldogs with 30 points, including 11-15 from the field and 8-8 from the free throw line. Mike Bibby added 21 points and 8 assists, while Antoine Walker pitched in 20 points and 11 rebounds. Toni Kukoc scored 27 to lead the Dazzlers, while Rik Smits added 18.

Game 2 (128-126): Bibby hit the game-winning jumper with 20 seconds to go, ending this thriller that featured numerous lead changes. Bibby and Rice led a balanced attack with 16 apiece. Antonio Daniels scored 15 points in just 7 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs. Daniels was 6-6 from the field, including 3-3 from beyond the arc. Kukoc and Steve Smith paced the Dazzlers with 21 apiece, and Cliff Robinson added 20. Dazzler point guard Avery Johnson dazzled the crowd with 17 assists while committing only 1 turnover against the pressing Bulldogs.

Game 3 (123-106): Davenport battled back from a 15-point deficit after three quarters to pull within four, 102-98, with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter. Miles coach Hayden Fry made some key substitutions, and the Bulldogs scored the next 8 points to regain the momentum. Doug Christie keyed the run for the Bulldogs with 2 free throws and a fastbreak basket. Davenport never got within 10 the rest of the way. Bibby and Rice led the Bulldogs with 28 apiece, combining to go 26-46 from the field. And each had 6 rebounds to boot. Walker chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kukoc again led the Dazzlers with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Robinson added 19, and Johnson dished out 11 more assists.

Galactic sweeps Sublimity at home

Game 1) Sublimity 113 Galactic 126

Mourning lead Senators with 25 points and 9 rebs, Brand added 12 points and 12 rebs, G.Robinson scored 27 with 6 rebs, Kidd had 17 points, 5 rebs and 9 assists. Thunder put 7 players in double figure scoring lead by Stockton with 18 and 16 assists.

Game 2) Sublimity 123 Galactic 125

Mourning had 23 points 10 rebs, Brand 22 with 7 rebs, Kidd 17 points 7 rebs, 7 assists, Houston had 22 points. Galactic was lead by Brandon with 24 points 7 rebs, and 8 assists, Stockton had 12 points and 11 assists, Malone and Richmond had 21 points each. Coleman made 2 free throw to give Thunder a five point lead and G.Robinson made 3 pointer at the Buzzer to make it a 2 point victory.

Game 3) Sublimity 119 Galactic 129

Mourning lead Senators with 27 points and 7 rebs, Houston had 24 points, Brand had 21 points and 9 rebs. Kidd added 18 points and 5 rebs and 11 assists. Thunder again put 7 men in double figure scoring lead by Richmond with 27, Malone had 21 and 13 rebounds and 5 assists. Trailing at the start of the 4th quarter 96-92 Galactic went on the out score Sublimity 37-23 in the final quarter to take game going away.

Commissioner kidnapped by disgruntled SABL coaches

In an alleged effort to bring more competitive balance to the league, several SABL coaches conspired to kidnap and hold Commissioner and St. Lucie Aces Coach Scott Ellis incommunicado until he traded off Shaq and Grant Hill for three fourth-round draft picks.

According to reliable sources, this professional operation was carried out in the early morning hours of Feb. 1 and allegedly financed by arch-rival and Sadaam Hussein associate Steve Walters, coach of the defending SABL champion Galactic Thunder.

After being blindfolded and fed dog food for 10 days, Ellis was freed after a daring and successful rescue mission by former SABL Commissioner Tom Gantert. "I hated the darkness, but actually, the Dog Chow wasn't half bad," said Ellis.

Ellis is back on duty as SABL Tyrant, while Walters is refusing all comment.

New February SABL league disk is on website

I've emailed this to you, too, but it's also on the website for your download, if you need it at 2000-01 League Disk. Please use this disk or make sure you have made our two February deals in the exact order listed below. It's a self-extracting zip file that will install our league with the latest stats and standings right into your SOMBK\Leagues directory.

PLAY BALL!

January stats, standings, leaders, etc, now posted

Check it out and enjoy!

Schedule to have end of month gaps next season

Our SABL schedule is pretty good, but we need to have the last week of every month as an open week, with no games scheduled, to allow everyone to get their games played before trades take effect the next month. With this one tweak, I think our regular season schedule next year will be a winner. I plan to implement it.

Let me know what you think!.

Aces hold on in South, East Asia pulls out in East

St. Lucie is keeping a thin lead over defending SABL Champions Galactic, while Paul Bennett's Dragons are looking to take their second East Division title in a row. In the North, all four Feeneys are still duking it out while in the West, the SABL has another exciting race between San Jose, Finney and Sublimity.

Who knows who's gonna win? Will all these teams make the playoffs? Stay tuned!

Penalty point report

Now the part of my commissioner's duties that I like the least, assessing penalty points. Please let me know ASAP if I've made an error. Here's the current tally:

Garden City - 9 points total. Garden City drops three places down in next year's draft.

2 points for no instructions for Garden City at Sublimity, Jan. 24

3 points for no instructions and no results for the Garden City-Chapel Hill series on Jan. 10

1 for no results for San Jose at Garden City, Jan. 4

1 for no results for Bettendorf at Garden City, Dec. 12

1 for no results for River City at Garden City, Dec. 9

1 for no results for Tri City at Garden City, Dec. 11

Akron - 7 points total. Akron drops down two places in next year's draft:

1 point for no results for East Asia at Akron, Jan. 1

1 point for no results for Dec. 7, Chapel Hill at Akron

2 points for no results or instructions for Dec. 7, Galactic vs. Akron

1 point for no results for Dec. 7, McLean at Akron

1 point for no results for Dec. 7, St. Lucie at Akron

1 points for no results for Dec. 7, Akron at Tulsa

Chapel Hill - 2 points total.

2 points for no instructions and no results for the Garden City-Chapel Hill series on Jan. 10

Bettendorf - 2 points total.

2 points for no results for Dec. 12, Bettendorf vs. San Jose, both games

St. Lucie - 1 point total.

For sending out a defective SABL league disk for January games.

River City - 1 point total.

1 point for no results for Brookyln at River City series on Jan. 15

Who's trading?

ONLY USE THE TRADE FUNCTION TO ADJUST ROSTERS! DO NOT CLONE OR DELETE PLAYERS! THIS WILL CAUSE YOUR GAMES NOT TO IMPORT INTO MY OFFICIAL LEAGUE COMPUTER DATABASE OR YOUR OPPONENT'S COMPUTER DATABASE. YOU WILL ALSO GET PENALTY POINTS FOR USING THE CLONE OR DELETE PLAYER FUNCTIONS BECAUSE ANY GAMES YOU PLAY COULD CAUSE HOURS OF EXTRA WORK FOR ME AND YORU FELLOW COACHES! ALSO, MAKE YOUR TRADES IN THE ORDER LISTED BELOW, 1, 2, 3, 4 AND SO ON.

THESE DEALS TAKE EFFECT FEB. 1, 2001. DO NOT ADJUST ROSTERS UNTIL YOU'VE PLAYED YOUR JANUARY & DECEMBER GAMES WITH THESE TEAMS. I WILL NOT ADJUST ROSTERS ON OUR WEBSITE UNTIL FEB. 1.

9. Bettendorf trades Jeff Hornacek to Miles for Terry Porter and Bettendorf's 2nd pick. 

8. River City trades E. Robinson, Gilliam and its 1st pick to Tri City for Schrempf, Farmer and Tri City's 2nd pick.

CASEY IS GONE!!

After strong showings in a Iowa (a three game sweep) and at home vs Richmond (3-1) owner Steve Feldheim has fired the Old Perfesser. The team will be coached (on an interim basis) by a Troika, Kerry Collins, Jason Sehorn, and Jim Fassell. Serious negotiations are under way with all ex-managers of the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. Patrick Ewing is also rumored to be under consideration. Casey responded to queries about his performance with the following.."I tried but the fellers, particulary that Lamar Elton guy and the one from Alabama ,Mobil I think his name is, were so bad at bein good they couldn’t be bad".

Druids split with River City at Bettendorf

The three-point shootout switched to The Mark of the Quad-Cities, but the results were the same: some exciting basketball and a 2-2 split.

Game 1: The Renegades forced 22 turnovers in a 122-101 victory. Reggie Miller led the way with 30 points.

Game 2: A tough Druid defense forced 25 turnovers and limited the Renegades to 40% shooting from the field in a 127-99 triumph. The Druids put seven players in double figures, led by Jeff Hornacek with 18. Mookie Blaylock dished out 11 assists with no turnovers.

Game 3: The Renegades hit on all cylinders as they crushed the Druids 145-112. Michael Dickerson had 29, followed by Kenny Anderson with 28 (in 25 minutes) and Reggie Miller with 27. Anderson made 8-of-11 three-point attemps and the two teams were a combined 46-100 from behind the arc.

Game 4: In one of the wildest games in SABL history, the Druids pulled out a 166-159 victory in overtime. With trade rumors swirling, Jeff Hornacek played the best game of the year, scoring 32 points on 10-of-13 three-pointers on 2-of-2 free throws. He missed his only two-point shot. The two teams combined for 94 points (47-47) in the third quarter, when they made 22 threes. For the game, the two teams were 72-129 from behind the arc. Bettendorf was 42-74 and and River City 30-55. Michael Dickerson led the way with 55 points for the Renegades.

After the game, it was announced that Hornacek had been traded to the Druids' arch rivals -- the Miles Bulldogs.

"It's been great fun playing most of my last year in Bettendorf," Hornacek said. "But if I get back here in the playoffs, I'll make you pay for this trade."