Half Mile Bulls and Victory Valley Royals clinched contrasting victories over Amelia’s Ward Jets and Bankers Trust Falcons when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA)-sanctioned Banks Malta Supreme Open Christmas Championship continued on Wednesday.
Staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, national players Terron Welch and Michael Turner top scored in the win with 20 and 15 points respectively. Meanwhile, Parish Cadogan netted 14 points in the loss while national player Orin Rose supported with 10 points.
Trailing at half time 28-21, the Bulls barely made any inroads into the deficit as the third period ended 37-31. Nonetheless, the Bulls sealed the unlikely win in the final stanza, netting 23 points to the Jets’ 13 points to seal the win.
In the second matchup, Victory Valley Royals dismantled Bankers Trust Falcons by an 89-44 score line. Harold Williams netted a tourney high 34 points in the rout while Marlon Pollydore, Akeem Powers and Nevin Glen netted 14, 11 and 10 points respectively.
For Falcons, Thornton Wilson and Lawrence Simon scored 15 and 14 points respectively. The six-team tourney will be contested in a round-robin format, with the resulting top four clubs advancing to the semi-final round.
The contest was practically over in the first period as Royals took a 27-7 lead. This advantage continued to be maintained going into the half time period as the second stanza finished at 49-21.
The rout continued in the third period as they outscored Falcons 18-9 to take a 68-30 lead into the fourth period. The score line was sealed in the final stanza as Royals out-shot Falcons by a 21-14 margin.
Action in the event is slated to continue today at the same venue with a doubleheader. In the opening fixture, Block 22 Flames will oppose Bankers Trust Falcons from 19:00hrs whilst Half Mile Bulls will oppose Victory Valley Royals at 21:00hrs in the feature affair.
On Saturday at the same venue, the opening fixture at 19:00hrs will pit Amelia’s Ward Jets against Block 22 Flames while at 21:00hrs in the feature contest, Retrieve Raiders will lock horns with Victory Valley Royals.
