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Pacesetters maintain unbeaten record in Linden
By Edison Jefford
National basketball champion, Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters maintained
Pacesetters’ Michael Turner (left) goes for a two-handed put-back off the glass Friday night with Royals’ Lawrence DeCosta challenging him at the rim.
an unbeaten record when they defeated Victory Valley Royals Friday night in Linden in the second edition of the Mecca to Mackenzie Basketball Playoffs.
Pacesetters held on for a tense 62-57 win that was decided in the final two minutes of the grudge game in the Mining Town. The last time those two teams met in Linden, Royals had a nail-biting one-point victory, prompting an imminent rematch.
Travis Burnett proved why this writer regards him as one of the top true point guards in the game locally when he mesmerised defenders, and wowed those that turned up to see the game with that inside play-making skill he so abundantly possess.
With the scores locked at 55 points apiece with two minutes to play, it was Burnett who stepped up on the defensive end, made a steal and laid-up the ball to push Pacesetters permanently ahead despite Royals’ charge, which vocal supporters urged on.
Burnett, who clearly preserved his fitness as part of the national squad that will play Bermuda in Guyana next week, dropped a cautious 17 points. Budding division one forward, Michael Turner also scored 17 points while guard, Ruel Ritch had 11 points.
Forwards, Orlan Glasgow top scored for Pacesetters with 13 points while Dwight Cooper had 10 points, and Harold Adams nine points. Royals needed shooting guard, Chris Williams to step up big against their long time nemesis, but Williams had a cold night.
Amelia’s Ward Jets won the first game when Plaisance Guardians failed to show up to play them in a rematch of the Road to Mecca II National Basketball Championship round-of-16 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall three weeks ago. Jets received a ‘walk-over’.
Retrieve Raiders, the only Linden team that reached the last four in Georgetown after playing in the final last year, then featured a few guest players from Jets to play Colts in the second of three games scheduled for the night of rivalry basketball in Linden.
Raiders managed to topple Colts 68-45 with Neil Marks shooting his way to 15 points with Keon Cameron adding 18 points. Guards, Sheldon Noel and Alexander Rose scored eight points apiece for Raiders that Colts had beaten in the national semi-final in Georgetown.
The local basketball community will now shift its attention to this week when Bermuda arrives to play Guyana in a three game series beginning Wednesday night. The series continue Thursday night and culminates Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
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