Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 29, 2008 Sports
–brings exciting end to 2008 season By Edison Jefford
It was dramatic, emotional and aggressive; it was a fitting end to competitive basketball this year as Courts Pacesetters survived against Dyna’s Ravens in overtime at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Saturday night.
Stephon Gillis provided a mature performance to lead his team to an 82–75 points win in overtime after regulation time expired with both teams on 68 points.
Gillis finished the game on 24 points while debut first division starter for Pacesetters, Travis Burnett had 14 points with Royston Siland and Jermaine Hamilton adding 12 and 10 points respectively for the team.
Surprisingly, guard Darcel Harris was the only player for Ravens in double figures at the end of the game with 20 points as Damian Liverpool, Ryan Stephney and Ryan Gullen failed to show up on the offensive sheet.
After finding an easy system that placed Ravens under defensive pressure in the first two quarters of the game, Ravens came back to provide basketball enthusiast with sufficient entertainment in final minutes of regulation time.
Siland had fouled out of the game with 5:11 left in normal time with Pacesetters trailing 58–60, but Hamilton made two free throws to equalise the scores. However, Ravens’ Kevin Lawrence was quick to put Ravens back in the lead.
Lawrence’s fast break lay–up triggered a mini offensive run as Harris and Seraiah Clarke finished consecutive plays that positioned Ravens 68–62 with less than two minutes remaining before the final whistle.
But the game dramatically changed when Gillis landed a big three–point jumper to level the scores at 68 points with one minute left in the game. However that time expired as Harris and Burnett’s attempts failed to drop.
The defensive nature of the game intensified for five minutes of gruelling basketball that brought everyone in the Sports Hall to their feet. A Gillis runner in the lane gave Courts a 72–70 points lead with 3:08 to play in overtime.
Ravens offence fell apart as Pacesetters suffocated Harris, who was obviously the feature of the team’s scoring. Naylon Loncke got away at the other end of the court to finish another runner to extend Pacesetters’ lead.
As Ravens struggled to convert, Hugh Arthur, Burnett and Gillis helped Pacesetters to an easy 82–75 points lead in the final minute that eventually became the final score line in the much–anticipated consolation game.
In the process of beating Ravens, Pacesetters broke a superstitious jinx that suggested that Ravens have their measure. The win was just reward for Coach Robert Cadogan against a team that is just as good as his Pacesetters.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]