Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 09, 2013 Sports
By Edison Jefford
Defending champions of the now Mackeson-sponsored Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters Inter-Ward Basketball Championships, Albouystown/Charlestown began their 2013 campaign for a historic back-to-back title with a hard-fought win Saturday night.
Albouystown/Charlestown, the only team with an energetic and patriotic following on the night, defeated Lodge/Meadowbrook 51-45 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall after a late fourth quarter slump that eventually failed to put them in any threat of losing.
Albouystown/Charlestown last won the Inter-Ward title in 2010. Guard, Sheldon Thomas added quickness, energy and even Showtime to the team for 22 points. Thomas relegated veteran guard, Trevor McCleod to the bench in an inspiring display of basketball.
His fellow Kwakwani-born team-mate, Dave Causway had 13 points, five steals and nine boards, while Sheldon Frank scored nine points. Each team in the 2013 competition is allowed two guest players. Albouystown/Charlestown went for Thomas and Causway in an obvious attempt to strengthen their backcourt offence.
Notwithstanding their significant advantage in size and body, Lodge/Meadowbrook buckled after a dominant first period. Mortimer Williams was their top scorer with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Drumson McCullay had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Ryan Wilson 10 points in the game.
Lodge/Meadowbrook had led 16-7 at the end of the first quarter and looked set to dominate the game as Thomas misfired his missiles from downtown for Albouystown/Charlestown. However, all that changed in the second quarter, unfortunately, for Lodge/Meadowbrook.
Down 11-16, Causway landed two huge three-point jumpers to put his team up 17-16, but Lodge went to work inside again after establishing their height advantage, which launched an offensive exchange between the two sides five minutes before halftime.
But Thomas warmed up for a later offensive blitz with a penetration in the paint. He wasn’t done there; he drained a huge three-point jump shot, completed a floater off the glass in the lane before draining another jumper from downtown to deflate Lodge in a minute and a half 10-point scoring spree.
Albouystown led 27-20 midway through the game, outscoring Lodge 20-4 in the second quarter.
When the game resumed, a high three-two zone from Lodge/Meadowbrook early in third forced some turnovers that they converted for 28-29 deficit.
But Thomas stepped up again and landed another huge three-point jumper to maintain their grip on the game.
The two teams exchanged offence with Albouystown holding on to a one point 38-37 point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Causway’s skilful penetrations and Nicko Fraser’s defence in the paint, including a huge block at the northern end of the court, breathed crunch time life into Albouystown/Charlestown, which ensured that they live on in the tournament following an opening win.
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