Latest update November 22nd, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- Exxon wants new oil block on own terms
- Indian companies eye Guyana’s oil
- ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu for ‘war crimes’ in Gaza
- Developing countries should not be curtailed in exploiting natural resources- PM Modi tells Parliament
- Jagdeo was sold expired soft drink at Marriott Hotel
Wismar end Lodge fairytale journey
-Senior women take 1-0 series lead
By Edison Jefford
There was too much at stake for experiments, which caused Lodge/Meadowbrook to completely miss the narrative that had gotten them so far in the National Community Basketball League that continued Thursday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The result was that Lodge/Meadowbrook, who was unbeaten before, suffered a costly 73-70 loss that booted them from the tournament. Wismar entered the quarterfinals as the clear underdog in the matchup and has now won itself a place among the Final Four.
Chris Williams and Harold Adams
Shooting guard, Chris Williams scored 17 points while Quincy Jones returned to the fold scoring 15 points as Harold Adams added 14 points. Wismar entered the game with one loss in the group and with its junior players carrying most of the offensive weight.
Conversely, the approach that had placed Lodge/Meadowbrook among one of favorite teams to win the tournament, flew out the window. Veteran forward, Dane Kendall had 16 points with the guard, Antwan Austin and Mertimer Williams adding 15 and 14 points.
Wismar shot the ball at a very high percentage with Williams and Nevin Grenville nailing three-point jumpers to hold a 13-12 lead in the first quarter. The two teams exchanged points before a fast-break play helped Lodge to a 26-19 lead within the last minute.
However, Marlon Pollydore landed a big three-point jump shot to cut lead as the opening period ended 26-22 in favor of Lodge, who shifted from running their offence through Pelham Doris to Darian Lewis to Kendal. Kendall was not a part of the team’s early success.
His minutes, like Sheldon Howell, grew for the quarterfinals and Lewis, who gave the team that youthful spark that got them this far in the tournament, warmed the bench. It was though the old vanguards were bent on absorbing the success of the otherwise balanced team.
Lodge/Meadowbrook had beaten quality teams like Plaisance/Vryheid’s Lust and Albouystown in their journey to the quarterfinals. They defeated those teams comfortably, starting the exit of the defending champions, Albouystown from the 2012 tournament. However, their fairytale run ended when they met the team from the western half of the Demerara River in Linden.
The truth is the bourgeoning presence of Kendall and Howell affected the team’s rotation when it mattered most in crunch-time. To add insult to injury, and as this writer had predicted, Wismar’s shooting ability was merciless; the team sunk Lodge/Meadowbrook.
Pollydore ignited Wismar’s offence early in second quarter with the team returning to its youth, Williams and Adams included, despite the presence of the senior players, who came in for the all important game. Wismar stuck to its game-plan and used the bench sensibly.
Williams, Doris and Johnson pounded the ball in the paint, and helped Lodge maintain their 34-30 lead with two minutes left before halftime. Wismar responded with its bench, and a 9-0 run gave the Linden-based
Wismar’s Quincy Jones drives against Lodge and gets the attention of all the ‘big men’ in the paint at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Wednesday night.
team a 39-34 points’ lead at halftime.
A baseline move for Adams and a big three-point jumper from Williams continued a 19-6 run for Wismar, which put them up with two minutes left in the penultimate period. However, Kendall’s ‘and-one’ finish and Lodge’s quick offensive blitz reduced Wismar’s lead.
The third quarter ended 59-53 with Wismar in command. Lodge cut the lead to 59-58 as Kendall finished a baseline lay-up. Lodge then took 61-59 lead with Drumson McCulley ‘and-one’ move with six minutes left in the game that was hanging in the balance.
The two teams traded points until Jones nailed a wide open three-point look to put his team in the driver’s seat. Mark Louis then followed with another missile from downtown that gave Wismar a 71-64 points lead with two minutes left in regulation time.
Lodge feverishly tried to catch Wismar, but their efforts were in vain as Nichola Jacobs upped an intense defensive strategy to sustain the lead and win the game. Jacobs joined Ann Gordon as the other female coach of a senior men’s team in the national competition.
Gordon is the coach of the Kwakwani team. Earlier in the night, the national senior women team defeated the junior national women 56-39 in the first of a three-game series. Jacobs top scored in the game with 16 points while Amerie Alphonso scored 14 points.
For the junior girls, point guard Lowquantor Gibson and Ginelle Ifill both finished the game with 10 points apiece. The competition continues tomorrow night at the Sports Hall. North Ruimveldt will take on Diamond/McDoom in another quarterfinal showdown.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A false panacea for electoral integrity
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News – Advocates for fingerprint verification in Guyana’s elections herald it as... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
