Eagles seized a 1-0 advantage in their three-match u-23 divisional finale with Pacesetters, overcoming the latter 95-86 in overtime when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League Championships continued on Wednesday.
The game plunged into overtime after the final quarter ended 77-77 following a timely block from Pacesetter’s Roger John on Travis Belgrave with less than three seconds remaining on the clock at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
This occurred after Pacesetters overcame a six-point deficit at the start of the fourth period at 67-61 to seize a 76-71 lead following a 7-2 run with 1:20 remaining in the match. Eagles then battled back, pulling within one with 55 seconds remaining at 76-75 after going on a 4-0 run.
It then became 76-76 as Eagles scored once from the free throw line seconds later. Eagles retook the lead moments onward from the foul line as they scored once.
However, Pacesetters were given the perfect opportunity to retake the advantage as Jaleel Duke was sent to the free throw line with 13 seconds remaining.
Usually reliable, Duke netted his first to pull the score to 77-77. He uncharacteristically missed his second attempt and the rebound was recovered by Eagles.
Opting to run the clock down to the dying moments, Belgrave’s attempt at a shot from within the paint was met by the timely hand of John as the clock expired to send the match into overtime.
Stephen Peters top scored for Pacesetters in the fourth quarter with eight points while Kwesi Thompson scored five points. The resulting five-minute period seemed to overwhelm the Pacesetters unit as they folded under the stifling pressure of the Eagles’ defence.
Eagles looked unfazed by the extra minutes as they outhustled Pacesetters by an 18-9 margin to move one win closer to the championship. Darroll Williams was the catalyst in the overtime stanza, netting eight points while Somesh Danram supported with three points.
Overall, Belgrave recorded a game high 29 points for Eagles while the combination of Williams and Kevin Wiggins contributed 20 and 18 points respectively. For the loser, Jaleel Duke top scored with 25 points.
He was assisted by Stephen Peters, Nathan Saul and Marvin Durant who scored 16, 13 and 10 points correspondingly. Prior to the fixture’s dramatic conclusion, Eagles raced off to the early lead as they outscored Pacesetters 23-12 at the end of the first period.
Wiggins led the assault for Eagles with eight points. On the other hand, the diminutive Duke top scored for Pacesetters with six points.
The momentum of the fixture changed sides in the second stanza as Pacesetters pulled within one of their opponent, netting an impressive 32 points to Eagles’ 22 points to trail 45-44 going into the half- time break.
Duke orchestrated the offensive blitz with 11 points. Meanwhile, Belgrave battled his way to eight points for Eagles.
The sea-saw nature of the contest continued in the third quarter as Eagles outhustled Pacesetters by a 22-17 score line to claim a 67-61 lead going into the fourth stanza. Once again Belgrave was the primary scorer for Eagles with 13 points.
On the other side, Quincy Dos Santos grabbed five points. On another note, Pepsi Sonics clinched their berth to the division-2 finale, downing Melanie Patriots by a 77-51 score line in their semi-final fixture.
Jason Squires top scored in the win with 21 points while Aubrey Smith and Kerwin Jackson supported with 14 points each. For Patriots, Shaquille Eversley, Ashton Adams and Orison Amsterdam netted 11, 10 and eight points respectively.
The first period witnessed Sonics securing the early advantage as they outscored Patriots 12-7. The Mandela Avenue based unit further strengthened their position in the second stanza, netting 19 points while restricting Patriots to 14 points to lead 31-21 at the half time interval.
Patriots then pulled within six points in the pivotal third period as they outhustled Sonics 22-17 to enter the final period trailing at 48-42.
However Sonics extinguished any hopes of a Patriots comeback as they netted 29 points in the final period while restricting their foe to nine points.
Due to the win, they will now oppose fierce rival Republic Bank Nets in the best of three finale. Action in the tournament is slated to resume today at the same locale
