Kanhai’s clutch freebies sink All-Star combination

Apr 28, 2014 Sports

Two clutch free throws with 14.2 seconds remaining in game time by Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai led reigning national champions Ravens to a gripping 59-58 victory over an All-Star combination on Saturday evening, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

A player from reigning national champions, Ravens goes up for a jumper in their clash against an All-Star combination on Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The All-star team got off to a fast start with Neil Marks hitting back-to-back jumpers, before Shane Webster got into the act through some neat passes byTravis Burnett to put them up 9-2.
Ravens slowed the game down exploiting their quick perimeter passing to score some easy baskets and led at the end of the opening period 19-11.
The beginning of the second quarter saw Ravens increase their advantage with some effective play inside the paint, while limiting the All-Star unit’s effectiveness in the lane and held a four-point lead (31-27) at the half.
However, the third quarter saw a change in strategy from the All-star team as they penetrated the Ravens interior to cut the deficit to three, down 45-48 as the whistle sounded to end the quarter.
The final period opened with Webster collecting a pinpoint pass from Burnett for an and-one to level the scores at 48-apiece.
That seemed to trigger them as they took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes through a layup by Webster, before Ryan Stephney answered with one of his own to once again tie the contest at 50-50.
The two teams traded the lead, but a three from ‘downtown’ by All-Star’s Stephon Gillis put them up 58-56 with 40.2 seconds on the game clock.
After that it was all Kanhai as he sunk one of two freebies to slice the lead to one, before the Allstars squandered a great opportunity to close out the game when Shelroy Thomas missed both free throws with 18 seconds left which would have given them a three point lead.
As Ravens advanced down the court Kanhai was fouled with 14.2s remaining in the game and he buried both free throws to hand them the win as time expired.
Kanhai finished with a game high 16 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Stephney ended with 11 points. Vincente contributed nine points and Jermaine Slater grabbed 12 boards to go with six points.
For the All-Stars, Webster scored 11 points, while Dwayne ‘Suga’ Roberts, Gillis, Burnett, and Thomas were all kept relatively quiet all evening, failing to reach double digits.
In the supporting games, the senior females topped the junior females 44-38; the Plasiance Guardians defeated the Panthers 23-21, while Pepsi Sonics dropped the Republic Bank Nets 46-30.