Guyana let D.C. Jammers off the hook

Jul 02, 2012 Sports

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By Edison Jefford
If ‘almost’ was translated as an actual occurrence, then Guyana would have won Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall when they took on the Washington D.C Jammers; yes, you are right! The game was actually that close between the established rivals.
Guyana almost won, but blew it in the final seconds when three attempted jumpers from beyond the arc failed to find the bottom of the net. Thus, D.C Jammers extended its winning record with a 65-62 points win against a Guyana side that held its own in the game.
Glen Stokes had 20 points and Joseph Flegler 12 points for the Jammers as Gordon Klaiber and Steffon Farley added eight points apiece. Somehow, Guyana could not find a way to stop guards, Stokes and Flegler from continuously breaking down their defence.
Forward Ryan Gullen was at his best, adding a turn-around jumper component to his game to top score for the hosts with 14 points; point guard, Travis Burnett scored 13, shooting guard, Steffon Gillis 12 and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai 10 points for Guyana.
The sombre atmosphere before the game owed to the an observance of a minute of silence for the late national basketball player Damian Liverpool, who died Friday evening in a motorcycle crash seemed to also dominate the game in the first five minutes.
Both teams went scoreless until Stokes signalled his marksman-like accuracy from downtown to open the D.C Jammers’ scoring account. Then, as if belatedly, an intense and competitive contest began to develop against the familiar foes with over three decades of history.
Burnett produced back-to-back steals with his usual defensive pressure that he fed to Gullen for a 15-footer and a three-point jumper that gave Guyana a 10-4 lead; the first period ended 12-7 with  Guyana comfortably in command and D.C Jammers struggling offensively.
However, the beginning of the second quarter immediately communicated that the visitors had gotten used to the Sports Hall; the Jammers went on a 13-3 run with Flegler and Klaiber working together in transition to give them a 20-15 lead midway through the period.
But Guyana, undaunted by the national snub of having to play in local club Pacesetters’ uniforms as opposed to the national team uniform (more on this story in subsequent issue) fought back into the game with Kanhai and Gullen finishing unanswered plays to regain the lead.
Then it was Showtime; Farley collected a pass from Flegler on the baseline, elevated from about 15 metres off and threw down a two-handed dunk that ‘pasteurised’ Jason Alonzo; the message was clear “in your face”. The Sports Hall was never livelier before the move.
Still Guyana was unmoved with Ryan Stephney squeezing his way inside for a layup and Burnett doing the same to close the first half 28-24 with Guyana ahead; both teams traded points in the third period with Keron McKenzie dishing a pass to Klaiber for more highlights.
Klaiber collected the ball and went aerial for a one-handed dunk that gave patrons much of their monies worth. It was clear that Guyana was not used to that type of aggression, but yet managed to hold on to a 44-44 deadlock at the end of the penultimate quarter.
Guyana went up early in the last period, but a double-technical call against them returned some momentum to the D.C Jammers, who wasted no time in ceasing the initiative. Stokes landed two big three-pointers that set Jammers off on a run.
But Gillis responded with a big baseline jumper from downtown, and then Kanhai finished a lay-up off a steal that cut deficit to one (62-63) with 1:23 left to play in regulation time. Guyana was then gifted with three possessions that Gillis and Kanhai both squandered.
It was a spirited effort from the Guyanese, but not enough to overhaul the D.C Jammers. Centre, Alonzo completely shut down the huge Lancelot Loncke and Royston Siland was a tower of strength in the paint to make the visitors work for the victory.
“They completely out-hustled us,” D.C Jammers’ Coach, Clarence Wallerson told Kaieteur Sport after the game. Guyana will play D.C Jammers again, Tuesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in a much-anticipated rematch.
Earlier in the night, the National Community Basketball League (NCBL) All-Stars blew away the Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs 92-47. Fabian Johnson scored 17 points for the NCBL All-Stars while Jason Squires added 14 points. Dominique Douglas, Nikkoloi Smith and Rodwell Fortune supported with 10 points each for the NCBL All-Stars.
Marlon Thornton scored 19 points for the Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs with Ashford Johnson adding nine points. The NCBL International Series continues tonight with the Bulldogs coming up against the Jammers in the feature game.

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