Latest update November 2nd, 2024 12:13 AM
3rd Rock/ GT Beer Open basketball finals decided Raiders halt Kwakwani 66-56, Royals trounce Bulls 67-49 to meet in Saturday’s final
Omally Sampson of Retrieve Raiders
Top rated Retrieve Raiders stopped outsiders Kwakwani by a ten point margin, 66-56, and third ranked Victory Valley Royals downed second seed Half Mile Bulls 67-49 in their semifinal matches of the 3rd Rock Entertainment GT Beer Open basketball championship, which were played last Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
Playing in the first game the Raiders, who benefitted from their number one ranking to gain a passage into the semifinals, proved too much for the Kwakwani side which had threatened with their crop of enterprising players to upset the rankings by reaching this year’s final; after playing exciting basketball in their two previous matches.
However, the Raiders would have none of it and kept their high ranking intact after taking a 15-8 first quarter lead, even as Kwakwani were able to outscore the Raiders 19-17 in the second quarter but trailed 27-32 when the half time whistle came.
Raiders would continue their better ball distribution to edge their counterparts 18-14 in the third quarter for a 48-42 score and then again having the edge 18-14 to come away in the final quarter to win by ten points (66-56). This win was possible through the inside presence of Omally Sampson who notched up a game high 20 points as Neil Marks, the former national forward and current guard Keiron Cameron had 11 points apiece and Deron Montrose seven. The top players for the Kwakwani side once again were, Evans Johnson with 18 points, Henry Gladstone got 21, Dwight Douglas 13 and Leonard Primo 11.
In the second game Royals outplayed Bulls for a 16-8 first stanza lead and still held sway with a 13-12 run in the second quarter to remain ahead 29-20. However, while the Bulls would outscore the roayls16-12 in the third quarter, but the Royals ended the first half leading 29-20. Royals’ dominance continued through the third quarter as they were up. But the Royals came back strong in the third quarter outscoring the Bulls 16-12, but trailed when the third period ended 36-41.
The Royals then upped the ante and with a 26-13 final strait performance won handsomely 67-49 as forwards Orlando Glasgow finished with 27 points, Trevor Proffitt had 13 and Harold Adams added eight to lead their charge.
For the losing Bulls, Terron Welch scored 17 points, Kevin Easton 11 and Dennis Niles was held to six points.
The previous night, Bulls ensured their place in the semifinals by disposing of Block22 Flames 78-34 to reach the semifinals with Welch scoring 24 points and Niles 13 with Cleon Johnson and Stephan Cameron each getting eight pints.
In the other game last Saturday night, Kwakwani blew away Bankers Trust Falcons 120-74 to advance to the semifinals with Evans Johnson scoring 24 points, Dwight Douglas 17 and Leonard Primo 14. The Falcons best scorers were Devon Thompson with 21 points, Akeel Primo got 18 and Thornton Wilson 10.
The final is set for this Saturday where the first game will see the third place playoff between the Bulls and Kwakwani and then the final between Raiders and Royals.
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