Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust stun South Ruimveldt

May 23, 2009 Sports

Snatch victory from jaws of defeat

Devon Cameron (left) and Naylon Loncke

By Edison Jefford
Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust proved that the game does not end until the final whistle goes, producing an impressive effort against South Ruimveldt, with a volatile crunch-time win in the HJTV and Lens Craft Inter-Ward Basketball Championships.
Wortmanville played from behind and took control of the game in the final two minutes to snatch a pulsating 79-75 win in game one of the best-of-three semi-final playoffs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Thursday night.

Forwards Devon Cameron and Naylon Loncke scored 19 points each with Loncke adding eight rebounds. Royston Siland scored 11 points with 10 ‘boards’ to complete a laudable and concentrated effort to go up 1-0 in the series.
South Ruimveldt’s Clarence Bennett led for the team with 19 points while Steve Neils Jr. had 13 points and seven rebounds. Dane Kendall finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the unit that took its precarious lead for granted.

South was leading 75-69 with 1:49 seconds on the game clock when Mark Trotz landed a big three-point jumper to haul Wortmanville to within three (7572) and simultaneously electrified patrons, who had already taken to their feet.
Cameron finished one of two free-throws and completed a steal to equalise the scores on 75 points. Wortmanville’s enthusiasts literally went ‘crazy’ as loud cheers erupted, while South’s supporters sat quietly in anxiety and suspense.
It was a perfect case of ‘karma’ since South dominated the game until the equalisation in the fourth quarter. South led throughout the game and played at a confident pace and did not start Neils, who only came on in the second half.
South led 21-20 in the first quarter; 39-35 at halftime and 63-51 at the end of the third period. They shot the ball at a high percentage and banged the board on every attempt. They had the ingredients for a definite win.

But overconfidence and underestimation took a toll in the last two minutes. Cameron ‘came to the party’ again with another steal that the level-headed forward easily finished to give Wortmanville its first lead of the game.
The 77-75 advantage with 1:14 on the game clock was enough to create an overwhelming atmosphere at the Sports Hall with fans out of their seats and clanging objects, both teams needed their best players in the pressure situation.
However, those seasoned ‘ball’ players failed to show-up for South in the final minute as Gavin Beeram and Neils wasted attempts on the charity line. Beeram’s was the first and by far the most important opportunity.
The South Ruimveldt centre missed both attempts to bring the scores on par on 77 points as the usual side court distractions exploded. Instead, Wortmanville remained in the lead and went further up with a lay-up from Royston Siland.

Then it was Neils’ opportunity to work out a miracle from the charity line with less than 30 seconds to play, but the national player uncharacteristically missed both attempts and Wortmanville used the clock to hold on for the win. The championship continues tonight with game two of the heated North Ruimveldt and Albouystown/Charlestown battle. North faces elimination after Albouystown blew them out in game one of the series Tuesday night.
Albouystown want to make a championship statement. The team is looking for a clean sweep and will definitely have a broom in its possession at the venue. North have an uphill task in attempting to prevent tonight’s sweep.
If this series goes to game three, every remnant of a final is expected to be in place since the competition and rivalry between them is like none other in the tournament. The game tonight could be just as exhilarating with North one down.