The University of Guyana (UG) overcame Eagles 58-54 in an Open Divisional fixture when Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘King of the Hard Court’ Championship continued yesterday at the Burnham Court.
Yoel Meusa led the winners with 14 points while Dwight McKinnon, Quincy Easton, Sherlon Gillis and Ewart Smith netted 11, 10, 10 and eighth points respectively. On the Eagles side, Mark Wills netted 17 points while Lynden Smith and Louis James scored 13 and 11 points respectively.
The opening period saw Eagles racing off to a 10-1 lead in the first six minutes ascentre Wills dominated the paint to net six points through layups. UG would then battled back to cut the deficit, outscoring Eagles 8-0 to pull within one with the score at 10-9.
Meusa initiated the run with two three pointers and a layup. However Eagles would the period the happier of the two sides as they outshot UG 5-0 to lead 15-9.
The low scoring second period would witness UG marginally outshooting Eagles 9-8 to trail at the half 23-18. Gillis led the way for UG with four points while Japheth Hackett and Lynden Smith did the scoring for Eagles with four points each.
The third stanza would witness the tertiary institution barely outscoring Eagles once more by a 16-15 margin as it ended 38-34 in Eagles favour.
McKinnon was the top shot for the students with six points through constantly attacking the rim while Meusa shot his way to five points inclusive of a three pointer. James the scoring for Eagles with five points while Wills and Lynden Smith supported with three points each.
In the final period, UG would finally overcome the deficit to clinch the win. Eagles increased their lead initially at the beginning of the period to eighth points through layups from Wills who netted eighth points overall in the period.
Supporting with a bruising four points was James. However UG would formulate a plan and battle back to take the lead in the final five minutes. Easton was the catalyst for the comeback with six points through a three points play following a layup and three freethrows.
Also supporting in the fourth quarter assault was McKinnon, Gillis and Ewart Smith who netted five points each by constantly attacking the rim for layups and from freethrow attempts.
The second match of the section saw Plaisance Guardians defeating West Side Warriors by a 70-58 margin. Ron Campbell secured a match high 34 points while Nicholas Cassius and Mark Richmond scored in the 19 and 10 points respectively.
Leading the losers with 16 points was Caleh Morrison while Devon Murray and Leonard Brotherson scored 14 and 10 points respectively. In the opening match of the division, Pepsi Sonics defeated Knights via walkover.
On Friday at the same venue, Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters downed Melanie Patriots 73-61 in a u-23 showdown. Nathan Saul top scored for both sides with 23 points in the win while Marvin Durant and Jaleel Duke supported with 18 points each.
Recording 19 points in the loss was Shaquille Eversley while Orin Sandy was the next best scorer with 12 points. Contributing seven points each in the loss was Devon Warren, Jeremy Jerrick and Nicholas Elias.
In the opening match of the division, Colts grounded Eagles 57-46. Marlon Glenn, Kevin Day and Dellon Wallace led the winners with 13, 13 and 10 points respectively while Travis Belgrave, Darroll Williams and Rolston Richmond scored 12, 10 and eighth points respectively in the loss.
