MBL Top 5; Top 5 Key Games (Week 4); Weekend Schedule

As we hit the 4th week of the season, here's the top 5 Teams in the MBL thus far:

(1) Cedar Valley    2-0 
Court Kings showed why they are team to beat, rolling past Rochester; They have 35 game winning streak dating back 2 seasons.


(2) Fort Wayne      3-0 
Vision stay in 2 spot after big win in Chicago; Can they do it again in Dayton tonight?


(3) Dayton               2-0 
Air Strikers have looked dominant in 1st 2 games, scored most points in League this season (157); Will they win Game of the Week in rematch vs Fort Wayne? 


(4) Chicago Fury   3-0 
The Fury has shown they could be a major player, as they get off to best start in team history. 

(5) Springfield       3-1 
Panthers bounce back from loss to get big win and move into top 5, solidifying themselves as a early contender.


Receiving votes:  Chicago Knights, TC Elite, Indiana Dream, Minnesota Broncos
Team of the Week (Week 3)
FORT WAYNE 
The Vision toppled the hot team in the MBL  (Chi Knights)  & stayed undefeated in the process. 


Week 4 Top Games 
(Saturday)

#2 Fort Wayne  (2-0)  @ #3 Dayton (2-0) 
Which team will get the 1-up early in this MBL  Season? 
Fort Wayne is still riding high after big win last week. Can Dayton get revenge?


Chicago Legends (2-1) @ TC Elite (1-1) 
Both ranked teams lost last week, but both have championship potential; which team will avoid early losing streak? & bolster themselves back into contention? 



Today Schedule: 

 Lincoln Lions @ #5 Chicago Fury  
Rochester @ Minnesota Lakers
North Minnesota  @Chicago Knights
Chicago Legends @ TC Elite 
Indiana Fury @ Indiana Dream 
#2 Fort Wayne  @ #3 Dayton 

Week 2 Recap; AIr Strikers drops 157 in big win; Knights, Fury win on road; Fort Wayne stays undefeated; MVP makes debut

Here's the Recap and Key Headlines on Week 2 in the MBL:

• Dayton scores league high 157 in big home win over Dream
• Chicago teams (Knights and Fury) both win on road 
• Fort Wayne stays unblemished after home win
• Indy Show garner first win in League with comeback win over Flash
• Snowstorm postpones games in Minnesota this weekend
• League MVP comes back after stint in Europe; G-League next for Thomasson?

With the leagues top team (Cedar Valley) out of action, it was still a showcase for the League as the games were hot and heavy despite the Minnesota snowstorm.

Teams of the Week: 

Chicago Knights  (2-0) 

The Knights showed the MBL that they could be a real force to be reckoned with, in a convincing 101-73 win over Illinois in Sherwood Park. A game which the Knights showed their defensive toughness, with the league low 73 points allowed in a game, which could stand up for a while.

The Knights scored 148 points last week, so they can also fill it up as well. A scary team early in the season. 

Dayton Air Strikers  (2-0) 

The Air Strikers put on a clinic to bomb the Indy Dream, to the tune of a season high 157 points. 

With 7 guys in double figures, Dayton has offensive weaponry everywhere and could see some high scoring games later in the season. 

Shocker of the Week:

Indy Show shock Flash, win on the road

The Indy Show went to Northern Kentucky and shocked the Flash, winning their first game of the season. 

WEEK 2 RECAP 

Vision continue to roll with tough win at home

Fort Wayne played well once again, to get a home victory over the Indiana Fury by the score of 120-109. With a full team effort once again, led by Demarien Smith and Trevion Crews, Fort Wayne moves to 2-0. While Indiana are still looking to find their rhythm, they did compete and give the Eastern Conference Champions some real competition, before the Vision turned on the juice and pulled away, 

Fort Wayne moves to 2-0 while Indiana falls to 0-2.

Air Strikers bomb Dream with huge offensive output

Dayton used a big 1st half to shut down the Indy Dream at the McAfee Center with a season high 157 points in the win. The Dream were led by Steve Smith and AD Graves, while League MVP Joe Thomasson made his debut to the tune of 22 and 5 assists in the big win. 

The Air Strikers had 7 guys in double figures and moves to 2-0. The Indiana Dream fall to 1-1.

Head Coach Chris McGuire was pleased with the effort, and is looking forward to the matchp next weekend against the Flash. 

The Dream have signed former G-F Teddy Maris to a contract, as they look to secure themselves for a  playoff push this season. 

Knights continue to roll as D stymies Illinois 

The Chicago Knights had another big win, this time on the road against a game Illinois team. This time, it was defensive intensity to lead the Knights at Sherwood Park, home of Illinois. While the game was close early in the 1st quarter, Chicago used its offensive weaponry to pull away, giving up the least amount of points in the League this season (73). Chicago also can score big, as Dabriawn Johnson led the Knights once again with a brilliant effort. 

The Knights move to 2-0 while Illinois falls to 0-2.

Fury stay on pace with big road win over Panthers 

 The Chicago Fury are also a team who are looking to make real noise, and with a big win over a top team in Springfield (112-104 at the Salvation Army), they stay on pace in first place after a comeback win at Springfield.

With Devante Jones and Isaac Smith leading the way, the Fury had a balanced effort. 

Springfield, with the leading scorer in the league in Michael Chandler, had a opportunity to get another home win, but the Fury kept up the pressure late, and salvaged a big road win to move to 2-0. Springfield falls to 1-1. 

Indy Show grab first win of MBL Season, upsets Kentucky on road

The Indy Show came out firing early, then pulled off a huge comeback win late to surprise the Kentucky Flash in a big road win 149-144.

With both teams 0-1, the intensity was at a playoff atmosphere, and the Flash looked as if they would garner their first w, as they held a 10-point lead heading into the 4th quarter. 

But the Show turned up the offensive and defensive intensity in the last quarter, scored 44 points in the final quarter and was able to stifle the Flash late to pull out the big victory, their 1st in the MBL.

Kentucky falls to 0-2.

And almost on cue, the Flash signed former G Melvyn Little to a contract, as they look to turn things around this week against the Dayton Air Strikers. 

MBL Top 5; Week 1 Recap; Week 2 Key Games; Snowstorm cancels big matchup; Players of the Week;

With the season off and running, here's a look into the First Week of the Regular Season;

MBL TOP 5  (Pre Season)

Here's our Preseason Top 5 and how they fared in Week 1 of the regular season:

(1) Cedar Valley Court Kings  - Defeated North Minneapolis 144-97   at home.

(2) Fort Wayne Vision   - Defeated Illinois 134-112  at home.

(3) Dayton Air Strikers  - Defeated Indy Show  136-123   on road.

(4) TC Elite   -  Defeated Minnesota Lakers 106-102 at home.

(5) Kentucky Flash  - Lost to Indiana Dream  112-107 on road.



MBL WEEKLY Players of the Week:

 (North) BRADY BURFORD,  Cedar Valley Court Kings  
                                     
(South) BRANDON EVANS, Indiana Dream 
                                 
(South) MICHAEL CHANDLER, Springfield Panthers 
                                    
 (North) DABRIAWN JOHNSON, Chicago Knights 


Burford led the offensive rampage with a 34 point, 12 rebound, 2 block performance as the Champs came out with a successful season opener. Burford, a  6'5 wing player with size, dominated in front of the home crowd.


Brandon Evans lit up the Kentucky Flash for 40 in the Season Opener at home, grabbing a huge win and starting the season off on a big note.
Evans, a wing player, also grabbed 16 boards to go with 5 assists and 2 blocks for a complete effort.


Michael Chandler dropped a huge game for the Panthers in the big win, as he scored a league high 41 points with 18 rebounds to boot to lead Springfield to a home victory.

Johnson had the huge triple double as the Knights rolled to a 149 spot and the combo guard statline was sick:
 20 points, 14 rebounds, 15 assists, and 3 steals to lead Chicago to a blowout win.



Snowstorm Shuts down Key Games in Minnesota
The huge snowstorm that has hit Minnesota has shut down the Game of the Week as TC Elite and Cedar Valley will not play as the Northwest Division will not play games this week.
The Games will be rescheduled for a later date.



Week 2 Key Games:

Indy Dream  @ #3 Dayton Air Strikers  (Game of the Week)
With both teams winning in week 1, who will survive in Week 2? Dream G-F Brandon Evans dropped 40 in week 1, but can he do that against a solid Air Strikers D?


Indy Show   @  Kentucky Flash
Which team will grab their first W of the season?
The new squad in Indy, or the possible final four favorites in Kentucky?


Chicago Fury  @ Springfield Panthers  (Game of the Week) 
Which team will move to 2-0 in this early part of the season? Both teams want to push for the Final Four this season. Can the leading scorer in the league do it again for Springfield?


Indy Fever  @ #2 Fort Wayne Vision 
Can the Fever knock off a Championship or bust Fort Wayne squad on the Vision home turf?


#5 Chicago Knights  @ Illinois Bulldogs 
Can the Knights continue to start off the season on fire? Illinois will be primed for a win at home, but the Knights look ready for war.





Jamestown headed to MBL? 
Championship team headed to MBL?
The Jamestown Jackals, a conference champion in the NABL, could be on the move after a great run. With a program that has risen to new heights Ina short time, the Jackals have become the darlings of the League and in Jamestown.

 Jamestown owner Kayla Crosby has great respect for the MBL;  and although possibly getting the Jackals to G-Leagie status in the future is the goal, the Jackals will keep all options open as they prepare for the 2nd part of the season while they await the Champs of the NABL.