Ravens edge Sonics in controversial overtime

Mar 15, 2009 Sports

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– Jets fuel past Scorpions

By Edison Jefford

Pepsi Sonics confirmed its place as one of the new leading clubs in Georgetown when the team continued its recent emergence in a thrilling and controversial challenge against the offensively superior Dyna’s Ravens Friday night.
Jason Squires had made one of two free shots with the game clock reading 5.9 seconds in regular time to extend Sonics’ lead to 63–61 before Ravens’ Seraiah Clark finished a play at the other end that sparked immense controversy.
Referee Sherwin Henry did not initially count the point but did so later after consultation with the officials’ table. It seemed as though that the ball had not left Clark’s hand when the game clock expired therefore rendering the points invalid.
However, premature celebrations on the assumption that Sonics had won in regular time was discontinued after the counted points, following consultation, sent the game into a controversial overtime where Ravens won 74–70.
Darcel Harris had 14 points for Ravens while Clark and Ryan Gullen ended on 11 points each in the defensive battle. The win placed Ravens in the semi–final round of the Next Level Entertainment (NLE) Championships.
Pepsi Sonics played exceptional defence against the Ravens and had their just reward in regular time. Squires finished with 13 points and Trevor Smith had nine points in a truly collective effort on the offensive end of the court.
Sonics was the only team to have beaten Courts Pacesetters in the Georgetown League where it became clear that the team had started an upward mobility under the skilled tutelage of former national player, Mark Agard.
The Pepsi–sponsored unit raced to a 10–1 lead near the end of the first quarter against Ravens Friday night where the offensively superior team was forced to trail in the first half, which became an uncanny position for them.
Halftime read 28 apiece and it was not until two minutes into the third quarter that the Ravens got their first lead at 31–30 owing to Ryan Stephney’s three–point jumper that started a brief 5–0 run for the Dyna–sponsored Ravens.
It seem as though Ravens’ offence was beginning to click when Kevin Lawrence landed  another jumper from beyond the arc to give them a four point edge at 55–51 with five minutes left in the final quarter.
However, Agard sensing Ravens’ offensive run, placed Sonics into a zone defence that took the pace away from Ravens. The result was a two–point edge for Ravens (57–55) with a little over two minutes left in the game.
Sonics were not going to allow Ravens to run away with the win despite Harris’ inbound steal that helped Ravens to a 61–58 point lead with 56.7 seconds left in regular time in a game that was far from over at that stage.
Free throws granted Sonics an equalisation at 61 points and Ravens’ conversion failure in the dieing seconds left them no option but to foul with 18.8 seconds remaining. Sonics’ Earl O’Neil made one of the two shots.
Patrons at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall were tossed into frenzy as the entire 18 seconds brought them to their feet. Further celebration and awe erupted when Damian Liverpool’s missed attempt left Ravens stranded with 5.9 seconds.
The initial NLE finalist fouled again and Squires extended Sonics’ lead on the line. The game seemed over until a lobbed pass went unnoticed and Clark finished an uncontested baseline lay–up to send the contest into overtime.
Squires and Kevin Lawrence exchanged three–point jumpers in the early minutes of the extra five minute period but Ravens maintained a 70–67 edge with 1:13 left to play in a game that brought Pepsi Sonics tremendous respect.

The team was obviously affected with the points that sent the game into overtime but still a challenge was thrown out to Ravens. Kacey Hollingsworth landed a huge three–pointer in the final seconds that kept Pepsi in the hunt.
However, with the scores set a 72–70 after Hollingsworth shot, Lawrence made two free throws that gave the Ravens virtually an unassailable 74–70 point lead in the contest that was undoubtedly the best so far in the competition.
In the second group of the championships and in the first game, Jets ensured a team from Linden a place in the final when they thrashed the only Georgetown team in the second group with a convincing 74–56 points triumph.
The other two teams that will play for a place in the semi–final in the second group are Wismar Pistons and Victory Valley Royals, who are both from Linden. With one of them set to reach Jets, a Linden team is guaranteed a place in the final.
Kevin Joseph scored 23 points for Jets while Delbert Kitt shot his way to 14 points and Akeem Khanai ended with 12 points.
Starting shooting guard, Neil Simon was noticeably absent from the team’s roster Friday night.
Trevor McCleod had 17 points while Darren Thomas and Rawle Toney finished with 11 and 12 points respectively for Scorpions, who left Nets and Ravens from Georgetown in the first group as the only representative City teams.
The competition continues tonight with Kings taking on Nets and Pistons coming up against Royals for the other remaining final–four spots. Tonight will give an impression of the outlook of the Grand Finale set for next Sunday.

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