Kitty, Wortmanville join winner’s row

May 12, 2009 Sports

THEY PULLED IT THROUGH!!! From left, Kitty/Campbellville’s Devon Bacchus, Kester Gomes and Kevin Lawrence pose for Kaieteur Sport after helping to hold off a surging challenge at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Sunday night.

By Edison Jefford
There is no doubt that the current Inter-Ward Basketball Championships is heading in the direction of a few colossal quarter-final games as the tournament’s leading teams are not leaving anything to chance in the first round.
Wortmanville and Kitty ensured that they joined their championship counterparts, North and Lodge in the ‘Super–Eight’ round of the competition when the two teams registered respective wins Sunday night at the Sports Hall.

Wortmanville/Werk–en–rust surprisingly played from behind against BV/Melanie in the first game to eventually win 85–56. The final score line belie the early quandary that BV tossed Wortmanville into during their encounter.
Guard Kayode Murray led a spirited challenge with his sharp shooting in the first half of the game to give his BV team a one point, 31-30 lead at half time after they held a strong 16–9 edge at the end of the inaugural period.

However, Wortmanville had the depth to rally in the second half as BV/Melanie lost the sense of direction that launched them into serious opposition in the first half. The former champions took control and eased to victory.
Forward Naylon Loncke scored 16 points while Mark Trotz had 14 points to lead the top offence for Wortmanville; Devon Cameron and Royston Siland had 10 points apiece with the latter pulling down 10 rebounds for a double.
Had BV the necessary arsenal, the result might not have been that devastating since with a few unknowns, the team managed to hold off Wortmanville for half of the game but the nature of their score sheet told the offensive story.

Murray had 21 points and Dexter Walcott 12 points and 10 rebounds. The team urgently needed a more collective input on offence but as Murray had indicated, the opportunity was used to spot talent for the sport’s development.
Kitty had a more difficult time trying to put away Agricola/Bagotstown. The team, which boasted the likes of Kester Gomes, guest player Jason Alonzo and national forward Kevin Lawrence struggled to eliminate the East Bank side.
Even with victory eminent in the dying minutes of the game, Trevor Smith kept Agricola’s hope alive with a three point clutch jumper that renewed the team’s energy. However, Kitty was not prepared to give up their ‘Big Eight’ place.
Kitty held on for a 77–71 win with Devon Bacchus and Kevin Lawrence adding 14 points each and Gomes 12 points. Linden’s, Alonzo presence at the bottom was major; the ‘big man’ had 17 rebounds with seven block shots.

At the end of the organised encounter, Smith had 17 points with guest player from Linden Akeem Khanai putting up 12 points. Agricola/Bagotstown seemed the more uniformed outfit with captain Kwesi Roberts at the forefront.
However, Kitty/Campbellville was able to play toward their strength throughout the game, which was to shoot the ball at a high percentage. The team had 74 attempts at the basket but scored only 33 of those field goals.
The quest continues tonight when Albouystown/Charlestown battle Supply/Soesdyke in the first game and East/West Ruimveldt play Plaisance/Vryheid’s Lust in game two at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 7pm.