GABA Division I and III Leagues...Pacesetters remain unbeaten; Colts win twice in one night

GABA Division I and III Leagues…Pacesetters remain unbeaten; Colts win twice in one night

Mar 12, 2013 Sports

By Edison Jefford
Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters remained unbeaten in the Division I segment of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League, while Colts won both Division I and III games Sunday night on the Burnham Basketball Court.
Pacesetters overcame a second quarter offensive slump to recover in the second half, inflicting a 73-55 beating on Pepsi Sonics for their third straight win. Shooting guard, Stephon Gillis fired Pacesetters to the win with clinical sharp-shooting from downtown.
Gillis had 20 points while forward, Royston Siland scored 14 points and guard, Travis Burnett 13 points. Kurt Elias had 10 points in a good all-round performance from Pacesetters after they were

TGH Pacesetters Guard, Stephon Gillis blows pass Jason Squires to lay-up two of his 20 points Sunday night against Pepsi Sonics.

down at the half time break.
Jason Squires had 22 points for Sonics, while Marlondo Mickel had 11 points. Pacesetters took a 13-6 lead in the game with back-to-back layups from Gillis, but a fast-break finish from Squires allowed Sonics back in the contest.
Burnett consistently broke down Sonics’ defence with his speed, opening up the court for Gillis and big men, Elias and Siland. Elias finished a put back to close the first quarter 19-13 in favour of TGH Pacesetters that broke down offensively in the second quarter.
Squires landed a three-pointer to commence the offensive lull from Pacesetters. Sonics increased its zone defensive pressure and forced early pacesetters turnovers. Squires then completed a fade away jumper off the glass for five unanswered points.
The run continued for Sonics that equalised at 21 points off a three-pointer from Squires. Sonics seemed to be ticking offensively when a backdoor finish and consecutive three-point jumpers off high screens from Squires and Ryan Melville gave them a 29-23 lead.
Pepsi closed out the second quarter with a healthy 35-25 points’ lead. However, Burnett finished an up-and-under move and Gillis drilled a three-pointer to cut lead to five, 30-35. Burnett went to work in the lane consistently, forcing Pepsi that held a now slim 37-36 points’ lead to foul him in the paint.
Then for the second straight game, the last half belonged to Pacesetters. Gillis opened the third period with a three-pointer, before Pacesetters employed a suffocating 3-2 zone defence that forced many Pepsi turnovers.
Pacesetters capitalised on the offensive end for 10-2 run that put them up 46-39. The Pacesetters run continued with back-to-back fast-break plays that helped them take a 52-41 points’ lead that was extended to 56-45 at the end of the penultimate period of regulation time.
Pacesetters offensive rampage continued in the final period that became just a matter of formality for Pacesetters that gave Pepsi no chance of recovery.
Earlier in the night, Colts had demolished Knights 83-66 in another Division I contest with scoring machine, Shelroy Thomas putting up 21 points and Dave Causway 17 points. Sheldon Thomas scored 15 points while Marvis Hilliman had 14 points.
For Knights, Owan Walton finished with 22 points while Devon Bacchus had 13 points. Colts also won its Division III game on a night that saw four basketball games being played at the outdoor venue.
Colts won its 3rd D game 73-57 against West Side Jammers with Evans Johnson scoring 18 points, Teon Joaquin 12 points and Lennox Thornhill 11 points. Bentick had 21 points for Jammers with Quincy Gibson scoring 10 points.
Eagles soared above Panthers in the other Division III game 79-70 with Neil Gordon adding 19 points and Courtney Taylor 11 points for Eagles. Jonathan Pooran scored 29 points and Orlando Gibson 14 points for Panthers in the GABA League.