Pacesetters crash to first defeat this year

Sep 08, 2008 Sports

– Williams phenomenal from ‘downtown’By Edison Jefford
When Royals’ coach, Kester Jeffrey told me that his young guard, Chris Williams is as good as any national junior player in the country, I didn’t believe him! I had to make an independent assessment exclusive of any prompting.

After witnessing one of the most clinical displays of crunch–time shooting Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club court, I am now thoroughly convinced that Jeffrey was right! Williams was as lethal as an in–form Stephon Gillis.

In one of the most competitive games in Linden this season, Williams landed six–of–seven jumpers from beyond the three–point arch to send Georgetown’s premier club, Courts Pacesetters crashing to their first defeat this year.

Royals won 63–59 in overtime in an immense defensive battle. Williams ended with 21 points from a courageous effort at the Division One level while Orlando Glasgow chipped in with 14 points and national centre, Dwayne ‘Sugar’ Roberts 12 points.

The Victory Valley–based Royals went into the fourth quarter of the game comfortably placed on 43 points compared to Pacesetters’ 24 points. However, ten minutes of gruelling defensive pressure changed certain regular time victory for Royals.

Pacesetters employed a full–court technique on defence with the ball being attacked from the inbound. The tactic marked the beginning of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of basketball in the Mining Town.

Gillis scored four consecutive points to begin the last official period for Pacesetters and then there was a mutual offensive lull that lasted approximately three minutes. After the respite, Royals clawed to 48 points while Pacesetters hastened to 38 points.

The last five minutes ensued with the Courts–sponsored team already halfway through Royals’ lead. Kwesi Roberts scored two–of–three free–throws then a Jermaine Hamilton put back and Gillis three–pointer continued Pacesetters’ pursuit.

The score, at this stage, read 48–45 in favour of Royals. ‘Sugar’ made one free–throw to help Royals to 50 points before Roberts scored another free–throw and Hamilton a lay–up to haul Pacesetters to within two points.

Hugh Arthur scored both free–throws to send the game into overtime. The scores after regular time were locked at 50 apiece with both teams in the penalty. Any contact violation sent the offended to the free–throw line.

Gillis and Hamilton got Pacesetters off to a heated start in the five–minute overtime period with a three–point jumper and reverse lay–up respectively. Royals seemed deflated but were reenergised when Williams landed a huge clutch jumper.

With 1:21 left on the game clock, Williams made good his final three–point jumper, which tied the game at 59 for the second time. After loudly calling for the ball, ‘Sugar’ got and maximised the opportunity to put his team up 61–59.

Hamilton then missed two free shots that would have tied the game at 61 in the final minute but that was not to be as ‘Sugar’ sweetened the win for Royals when he made the game a two– possession game for Pacesetters with two crucial free–throws.

Gillis finished with 18 points while Rayon Cummings had 14 points and Royston Siland 10 points. Pacesetters, experimenting with a few new faces, played from behind for most of the grudge match–up in aid of Nichola Jacobs.

‘Sugar’ Roberts and Williams got Royals off to a calculated start. Williams was two–of–two from three–point range in the first quarter, which ended 12–8 in favour of Royals. Roberts, Glasgow and Williams then combined to advance the team’s cause.

Royals were ahead 26–15 at half time. Williams’ third three–pointer extended their score to 29 in the third period. His fourth such jumper then gave Royals a 36–17 advantage before he threw up a buzzer–beater to close out the third period.

Williams took seven shots from ‘downtown’, scoring six of them to keep Royals agitated on the offensive end. The win for Royals maintained a perfect record against Pacesetters in 12 months. Their previous victory came in last year’s New Era tournament.