Pacesetters set up quarterfinal showdown with Ravens

Mar 04, 2014 Sports

– GABF ‘Road to Mecca’ gets bumpy this weekend

By Edison Jefford
The smooth journey on the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) ‘Road to Mecca’ is expected to end this weekend for teams, as the road gets bumpy with the quarterfinal round since Trinity Grid Holdings Pacesetters has set up a showdown with Dyna’s Ravens.
Pacesetters ousted Bulls Sunday night with a comfortable 72-52 victory that allowed them to go deep into their bench. The victory for Pacesetters ensured that they will meet Ravens on Sunday in the quarterfinal round of the nation-wide competition.
Randy Richardson scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Travis Burnett added 13 and Keith Tute 12 points for Pacesetters. For the opposing Linden-based Bulls, Michael Turner finished with 12 points while

Pacesetters’ Centre, Jermaine Hamilton releases a jumper, which he placed off the glass against Linden’s Bulls Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Mark Rose scored 10 points.
Bulls had taken an early 10-8 lead in the game with Travin Dryden driving baseline, but forward Richardson, put-back equalised midway through the first period before Naylon Loncke nailed an old-school jumper to put Pacesetters ahead. Turner finished a put-back to level at 15 points, but an And1 finish from Jermaine Hamilton and steal from Burnett gave Pacesetters a 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Burnett went to work in the second quarter with back-to-back penetrations, including an And1 finish before Gillis landed a huge three-pointer for a 31-23 lead. The physical nature of the game increased with Pacesetters pressing on defence, but Turner still managed to drag Bulls to a 29-36 deficit at Halftime.
However, the second half told a different story for Bulls as Burnett continued to put pressure on their defence with his intriguing inside moves that led Pacesetters on a 20-3 offensive run with two minutes left before the final period of regulation time.
The third quarter ended 58-38 and Richardson did not spare Bulls in the final period, exposing his full range with an inside-out game that was devastating. Pacesetters pulled its senior players from the game and allowed its bench to seal the deal.
Earlier in the night, Pepsi Sonics guaranteed that the first half of the draw represents Georgetown teams with a comfortable 95-46 win. Guard Jason Squires scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds along with 13 steals for triple-double for the Pepsi Sonics.
His support came from Junior Lovell, who had 13 points, Collis Pluck and Kerwin Jackson, who both had 12 points and Drexel Amsterdam with 10 points. For the Pepsi Sonics opposition, Canje Knights from Berbice, Kevon Emanuel had 17 points and eight rebounds.
The round of 16 in the knockout competition continued when Victory Valley Royals won 66-58 against Plaisance Guardians. For Linden’s VV Royals, Harold Adams dropped 23 points and 18 rebounds, while Alwyn Rodney scored 10 points.
Colwyn Nurse scored 25 points with Ron Campbell and Enoch Mathews adding 11 and 10 points respectively for Plaisance, which had qualified for the competition through winning the wildcard playoffs that was played among eight teams for one spot.
Amelia’s Ward Jets blew-out Berbice Black Sharks 84-32 with national forward, Shane Webster putting up 24 points and 14 rebounds. Emmanuel Archibald ended up with 13 points. For Black Sharks, Jowell Fraser was their best player with 18 points.
The wins for Pacesetters and Pepsi Sonics ensured that the first half of the draw is fully devoted to Georgetown teams, while the wins for Royals and Jets guaranteed that the second half of the draw are booked for Linden teams. The draws ensure that a Linden team will play a Georgetown team in the final on March 23 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.