SlamBall’s final regular season week was truly historic, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling week of playoff contests. The Mob finished the campaign with a perfect 16-0, getting that final win in record-setting fashion. Mob gunner Darius Clark (Blue Springs, Mo.), who exploded for a SlamBall-record 44 points in his team’s regular season finale, was named Offensive Player of the Week. Lava stopper Faysal “Fessy” Shafaat (Orlando, Fla.), who has been a force in his team’s second-half resurgence, was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week. The other three players on the Week 4 All-SlamBall team are Gryphons gunner KyShawn Jones (Danville, Va.), Mob handler Cameron Horton (Jacksonville, Ala.) and Mob stopper Gage Smith (Elizabeth, Colo.). For the second time this season, the Mob’s Brendan Kirsch (Indianapolis, Ind.) was named Coach of the Week.
In Saturday’s Main Event win over the Gryphons that completed the Mob’s perfect 16-0 regular season, Clark collected a SlamBall single-game record 44 points, breaking the old standard of 43 set by the Wrath’s Ty McGee on July 22. In the game, Clark was 16-of-23 from the field, including 12 dunks. He averaged 27.0 points per game and was an astounding 30-of-38 (78.9%) on rim attacks during the Mob’s 4-0 week. He also contributed 15 loose ball rebounds and six hits.
Shafaat was a late arrival to training camp and was not drafted, but that did not stop him from making a huge impact during the Lava’s second-half surge. In three games last week, Shafaat amassed 27 stops and 17 loose ball recoveries. He had 11- and 10-stop games during the week, helping him finish as the league leader in stops per game (9.4).
Jones played a key role in the Gryphon’s push to the playoffs, averaging 32.7 points in three games last week. He chipped in 36 and 32 points in the team’s two wins, while also adding 12 LBRs and five hits during the week. His three games this season with 30 or more points are second-most in the league (Ty McGee, five).
Horton continues to be the engine that drives the Mob’s seemingly unstoppable offense. Last week he scored 46 points, converted 16-of-20 rim attacks and was credited with 22 assists. He finished the regular season as the league’s assists king, averaging 4.0 per game. Horton also made the Week 1 All-SlamBall team.
As usual, Smith did it all for the Mob in their four-win week. He registered 23 points, 38 stops, 43 LBRs and nine steals. He had two games with 13 stops and recorded at least 11 LBRs in three of the four contests. This is Smith’s third Player of the Week honor.
Under Kirsch’s direction, the Mob were the picture of perfection during the regular season, winning all 16 games. They showed no signs of vulnerability last week when they won games by 15, 30, 38 and 40 points. They completed the spotless regular season on Sunday by torching the Gryphons for 88 points, the most by any team this season. This is the second time this season Kirsch has been named Coach of the Week.
Other players who had stellar Week 4 performances: Wrath’s Ty McGee (scored 38 and 31 points in two losses), Slashers’ Amir Smith (44 combined points in two wins on Friday), Slashers’ Tong Crosby II (56 points, 17 hits, 14 assists and 14 LBRs last week) and Slashers’ Nathan Karsjens (blocked dunk at the buzzer to preserve a victory on Friday).
All-SlamBall Team – Week 4
Gunner Darius Clark, Mob (Offensive Player of the Week)
Gunner KyShawn Jones, Gryphons
Handler Cameron Horton, Mob
Stopper Faysal Shafaat, Lava (Defensive Player of the Week)
5th Man Gage Smith, Mob
Coach Brendan Kirsch, Mob