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North Ruimveldt pip Wortmanville in thriller
CAN’T STOP ME!!! Royston Siland (with ball) towers above Darcel Harris (#8) on his way to the basket.
By Edison Jefford
North Ruimveldt were like sitting ducks in the last minute of the gruelling encounter that took place before a capacity crowd, but none of the three open ‘looks’ that Wortmanville got effectively reached the ultimate target.
The HJTV and Lens Craft Inter-Ward Basketball final was not short on quality basketball Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, but in the end, North Ruimveldt held on for a 74-72 points win to go 1-0 up in the series.
Game two of the best-of-three Grand Finale took place at the same venue last night with the third place match-up between South Ruimveldt and Albouystown/Charlestown the preceding encounter. Game three, if possible, is set for Saturday.
Andrew Ifill continued to lead North on offence with 25 points and eight rebounds in the opening game of the series, while Yusif Edghill took advantage of major minutes after his role as starting guard to come away with 11 points.
Royston Siland had 20 points for Wortmanville, while Naylon Loncke added 17 points in performances that seriously lacked contribution from the bench. Leonard Caleb had the best score off the bench with nine points.
North had the best offence from the game’s commencement but struggled to maintain the lead, which nearly cost them in the end. The defending champions had comfortably raced to a 20-14 lead in the first quarter and looked hostile.
Darcel Harris, coming off the bench, was landing threes, Ifill was killing in the paint and all seemed offensively well for North. However, they were never able to effectively put away Wortmanville, which the second quarter proved.
The eastern and western ends of the court were divided into two fan bases for the finalists and chants sporadically emanated in support. Wortmanville’s fans had their opportunity to clamour when their team went on the offensive.
Loncke had a creative inside play to bring his team to within four (25-21) before a three-point play chopped the lead to one. Siland then bounced his way inside and elevated for a lay-up that gave Wortmanville its first lead.
Wortmanville went up 28-25 on the 14-5 offensive run, then two consecutive thunderous dunks from Ifill, including a two-handed reverse off an assist from Harris on a fast-break returned the lead to North before halftime.
But Wortmanville rallied to secure a 32-31 edge at the break. The hype, swagger and banter of a true championship game dominated the halftime atmosphere as two community-based teams clashed for a $500,000 first prize.
Loncke drilled a massive baseline three-point jump shot to equalise the scores at 35 then North placed their feet on the offensive accelerator and went up 43-35 with another Ifill dunk and Quincy Jones’ consecutive lay-ups.
Wortmanville responded with 2:31 seconds left in the third quarter and they were rapidly within four (46-44). The quarter closed 53-48 in favour of North. The teams traded points in the last period before drama in the final minute.
A capacity crowd rose to acknowledge Loncke’s three-pointer with 37 seconds left in the game. The shot brought Wortmanville to within two (72-70) after they were down five in exactly a minute of regulation time remaining.
Loncke then stole the ball on North’s possession and dished it to Siland for an open front rim lay-up attempt but the ball cleaned the ring then popped out to the amusement of the enthusiasts that were brought to their feet.
It was the first of their three attempts at winning the game or levelling the score. Edghill was then sent to the foul line where he made one of two free-throws to put his team up three points (73-70) before the clock resumed.
Loncke then went for another three-pointer but was blocked in the second open ‘look’ that the team had. Wortmanville had no choice but to foul Jones, who missed both shots at the charity line and James who made one of two shots.
With 14 seconds on the clock, Lake took two seconds off that time to gather the inbound and pull-up for three-point jump shot at the top of the key. The ball hit the front rim and rocketed out of bounds to give North the win.
A perfectly timed three-point jumper that struck the front rim then ballooned into visible oblivion with 12 seconds on the game clock spoilt Triston Lake’s opportunity to become Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust’s game one hero.
A perfectly timed three-point jumper that struck the front rim then ballooned into visible oblivion with 12 seconds on the game clock spoilt Triston Lake’s opportunity to become Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust’s game one hero.
North Ruimveldt were like sitting ducks in the last minute of the gruelling encounter that took place before a capacity crowd, but none of the three open ‘looks’ that Wortmanville got effectively reached the ultimate target.
The HJTV and Lens Craft Inter-Ward Basketball final was not short on quality basketball Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, but in the end, North Ruimveldt held on for a 74-72 points win to go 1-0 up in the series.
Game two of the best-of-three Grand Finale took place at the same venue last night with the third place match-up between South Ruimveldt and Albouystown/Charlestown the preceding encounter. Game three, if possible, is set for Saturday.
Andrew Ifill continued to lead North on offence with 25 points and eight rebounds in the opening game of the series, while Yusif Edghill took advantage of major minutes after his role as starting guard to come away with 11 points.
Royston Siland had 20 points for Wortmanville, while Naylon Loncke added 17 points in performances that seriously lacked contribution from the bench. Leonard Caleb had the best score off the bench with nine points.
North had the best offence from the game’s commencement but struggled to maintain the lead, which nearly cost them in the end. The defending champions had comfortably raced to a 20-14 lead in the first quarter and looked hostile.
Darcel Harris, coming off the bench, was landing threes, Ifill was killing in the paint and all seemed offensively well for North. However, they were never able to effectively put away Wortmanville, which the second quarter proved.
The eastern and western ends of the court were divided into two fan bases for the finalists and chants sporadically emanated in support. Wortmanville’s fans had their opportunity to clamour when their team went on the offensive.
Loncke had a creative inside play to bring his team to within four (25-21) before a three-point play chopped the lead to one. Siland then bounced his way inside and elevated for a lay-up that gave Wortmanville its first lead.
Wortmanville went up 28-25 on the 14-5 offensive run, then two consecutive thunderous dunks from Ifill, including a two-handed reverse off an assist from Harris on a fast-break returned the lead to North before halftime.
But Wortmanville rallied to secure a 32-31 edge at the break. The hype, swagger and banter of a true championship game dominated the halftime atmosphere as two community-based teams clashed for a $500,000 first prize.
Loncke drilled a massive baseline three-point jump shot to equalise the scores at 35 then North placed their feet on the offensive accelerator and went up 43-35 with another Ifill dunk and Quincy Jones’ consecutive lay-ups.
Wortmanville responded with 2:31 seconds left in the third quarter and they were rapidly within four (46-44). The quarter closed 53-48 in favour of North. The teams traded points in the last period before drama in the final minute.
A capacity crowd rose to acknowledge Loncke’s three-pointer with 37 seconds left in the game. The shot brought Wortmanville to within two (72-70) after they were down five in exactly a minute of regulation time remaining.
Loncke then stole the ball on North’s possession and dished it to Siland for an open front rim lay-up attempt but the ball cleaned the ring then popped out to the amusement of the enthusiasts that were brought to their feet.
It was the first of their three attempts at winning the game or levelling the score. Edghill was then sent to the foul line where he made one of two free-throws to put his team up three points (73-70) before the clock resumed.
Loncke then went for another three-pointer but was blocked in the second open ‘look’ that the team had. Wortmanville had no choice but to foul Jones, who missed both shots at the charity line and James who made one of two shots.
With 14 seconds on the clock, Lake took two seconds off that time to gather the inbound and pull-up for three-point jump shot at the top of the key. The ball hit the front rim and rocketed out of bounds to give North the win.
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