March 13, 1935
Watch the Finals pt 1 replay on YouTube!
Watch the Finals pt 2 replay on YouTube!
The Prissley Riverwolves and the Riverside Ramblers led their respective divisions all season long. Now, it all comes down to this: the Inaugural UMB Finals will crown a champion. Someone will take the Continental Cup for the first time. Will it be the Ramblers or the Riverwolves?
UMB News
- The first-ever UMB Finals opened with Game 1 at Merritt Park Arena in Riverside. The Riverside Ramblers, owners of the league’s best record, hosted the Prissley Riverwolves. Riverside rode 33 points on 9 three-pointers from GF Luther James to a dominant second half to take the opening game of the series, 73-66.
- With a 1-0 lead in the series, the Ramblers hosted Game 2. The Ramblers rowdy crowd was silenced in the third quarter when star guard Luther James went down clutching his leg. He limped off the court with help from trainers while the basketball world awaited word. The Riverwolves held off the Ramblers for 60-48 to even up the series. After the game, the Ramblers alerted the media that the injury to James was a mild Achilles strain and that he would be evaluated day to day. The injury had the potential to seriously affect the complexion of the Finals, as James had been a dominant force in the playoffs.
- After the somewhat cryptic prognosis provided by the Riverside front office regarding Luther James’ Achilles injury, observers were surprised to see James in the starting lineup for Game 3 as the series shifted to Prissley. The star guard showed no signs of weakness, putting up 29 points with a rebound and an assist as the Ramblers won 64-47, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. After the game, Riverwolves head coach Ron Hansen had some choice words for the Ramblers’ handling of Luther James’ injury status: “Yeah, I do feel it was a little, uh, underhanded? Not quite on the level. Maybe it wasn’t intentional, but it doesn’t feel right to me.”
- After controversial comments following Game 3, Prissley coach Ron Hansen shared a laugh and a handshake with Riverside coach Rick Blair as the teams warmed up, seemingly burying the hatchet ahead of Game 4 at Prissley Arena. The Ramblers erupted in the second half, turning the game into a blowout, and moving one win away from the UMB Championship. Ramblers G Lukas Higarza scored 16 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists while GF Luther James contributed 13 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist.
- The Finals moved back to Riverside for Game 5 with the Ramblers holding a 3-1 series lead. With their season on the line, the Riverwolves pulled off a win in a thriller, 57-55. GF Luther James scored 24 for the Ramblers, but SG Jesse Mills put up 23, his best total of the playoffs, along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists, lead Prissley to the win. The Riverwolves force Game 6, back home in Prissley.
- Riverwolves SG Jesse Mills matched his playoff high with 23 points, but Luther James’ 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists led the Ramblers as they held off Prissley for a road 67-62 win in Game 6. The Ramblers became the first team to win the Continental Cup, taking the Inaugural UMB Finals, 4 games to 2.
- Luther James is awarded the 1935 UMB Finals MVP award! James was brilliant, despite playing the final four games of the series with a strained Achilles tendon. “To be honest, it’s been bothering me quite a bit, but I just tried to focus and do what I could do. How many chances do you get to play for a championship like this? Adrenaline definitely helped. And the med staff folks were great. We got it done!”
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