Half Mile Bulls pipped Retrieve Raiders 63-62 when the Linden Amateur Basketball Federation (LABA) sanctioned Victory Valley Royals 20th anniversary knockout tourney continued at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Hard-Court on Saturday.
Terron Welch led the winners with a game-high 23 points. He was assisted by Kevin Easton and Travin Dryden who netted 11 and 10 points respectively. Neil Marks was the top scorer for the losers with 16 points while Keon Cameron and Lawrence DeCosta supported with 14 points each.
Leading 21-17 at the end of the opening quarter, Half Mile Bulls would surrender the lead going into half time after they were outscored 20-13 to trail 37-34. However, the Bulls would regroup in the third period, outscoring Raiders 20-7 to go into the final quarter leading 54-44.
Sitting on a 10-point cushion, the Bulls would withstand an 18-point scoring effort by the Raiders to seal the unexpected win. In the second matchup of the evening, Kings overwhelmed newcomers Blueberry Hill 70-33.
Steve Neils Jr. and Quincy Easton led the way for the Kings with 20 points apiece while Eon Reddock netted 12 points. Netting 11 points in the loss was Steven Arthur. Racing to a 23-8 first quarter lead, the Kings would continue to extend their advantage as the second period finished 45-17.
The third interval would prove to be Blueberry Hills’s best scoring period as they netted nine points while restricting Kings to 11, the quarter ending with the score 56-26. With the matchup already decided, Kings would outscore their opponents 14-7 to seal the victory.
On Friday at the same venue, tournament hosts Victory Valley Royals defeated Block 22 Flames 53-44. Orlando Glasgow and Chris Williams were the primary scorers for the winners with 19 and 10 points respectively.
Scoring 17 and 15 points correspondingly in the loss were Selwyn Henry and Shawn Carmichael. In the second fixture, Amelia’s Ward Jets crushed Bankers Trust Falcons 52-37. Allister Webster and Amoniki Archibald led the offence for the Jets with 17 and 16 points respectively.
Leonard Caleb was the main scorer for the losers with 14 points while Marlon Persaud contributed 11 points. The semi-final round of the event will commence on Friday at the same venue with Kings battling Half Mile Bulls and Amelia Ward Jets facing off with the tournament hosts.
The final of the event is set for Saturday at the same venue.
