07/01/2026
The Central Kansas Twisters pulled off a thrilling 102-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Servants for the MABA Championship, improving their impressive record to 10-3. In what turned out to be a nail-biting contest that came down to the final possession, the Twisters showed tremendous resilience and determination throughout the game.
The game started competitively with Kevin Marin opening the scoring with a three-pointer, though Oklahoma City quickly responded and built a 24-15 lead late in the first quarter. Parker Austin began heating up, scoring eight consecutive points on a combination of field goals and free throws to help close the gap. He finished the opening period with 13 points as the Twisters trailed 33-30. The second quarter saw Oklahoma City extend their advantage to as many as 12 points, but the Twisters continued battling back with contributions from multiple players including Ty Butner and Aaron Reimer, heading into halftime down just 56-51.
The third quarter featured exciting back-and-forth action with neither team able to pull away. Daniel Moose was stellar inside, showcasing his efficiency by finishing 9-of-16 from the field for 18 points. Austin connected on a pair of three-pointers during this stretch, while Butner caught fire with 11 points in the quarter, including two three-pointers. The teams entered the final period knotted at 78-78, setting up a dramatic finish.
The fourth quarter was a testament to the Twisters' heart and determination. After falling behind 99-95 late in the game, Austin delivered clutch plays down the stretch, finishing with a game-high 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting along with a 10-of-13 from the free throw line. Butner added crucial baskets and ended with 21 points despite a challenging shooting night. With the game on the line, Butner's go-ahead basket gave the Twisters a 101-100 lead, and Drew Martin sealed the victory with a free throw, capping off his solid 10-point performance. It was a complete team effort and a memorable win on the road!
This is also Parker Austin’s final game as he is retiring. With retirement, he is also the first MABA player to be inducted into the MABA Hall-Of-Fame.
After the game head coach Terry Stucky said this was one of the hardest working, most resilient teams he ever coached. The determination and never give up attitude was essential to getting this championship. Something was just different about this team, some key return players and some great newcomers were able to blend together to make a tough team that refused to give up in any situation.