Retrieve Raiders and Victory Valley Royals clinched their berths in the semi-final round in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) u-23 tournament, downing Bankers Trust Falcons and Block 22 Flames respectively on Wednesday. Staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Hard Court in Linden, Raiders downed Falcons by a 55-44 score line. Daniel Anthony top recorded with a game high 18 points in the win. He was supported by the duo of O. Williams and C. Winter who chipped in with 12 and nine points respectively. Trailing by a 14-10 score at the end of the first quarter, Raiders would seize the initiative in the second stanza as they netted 15 points while restricting Falcons to a meagre three points to go into the half time interval ahead by a 25-17 score line.
They then built on their advantage in the third period as they netted 14 points while holding Falcons to 11 points to enter the fourth period ahead by a 39-28 margin. Raiders would then seal the victory in the final period as both teams recorded 16 points each. In the other preliminary showdown, Victory Valley Royals dismissed Block 22 Flames by a 44-25 score line. Keifer Tappin had an excellent showing in the matchup as he netted a game high 24 points in the victory.
Assisting with 10 points in the win was Nevin Glen. On the other side, D. Peters and D. Williams top scored with 10 points apiece.
Tied 16-16 at the end of the first half, Royals would seize control of the matchup in the pivotal third stanza as they recorded an impressive 26 points while holding Flames to seven points to go into the final period ahead 42-23.
With a 19-point lead going into the final quarter, Royals would be outscored by Flames by a 12-2 score line. Action in the tournament is slated to continue tomorrow with the grand finale at the same venue.
