Pacesetters secured their place in the 1st division of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association, downing 2nd division unit Republic Bank Nets by a 59-44 margin in their relegation playoff on Wednesday.
Staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue, Travis Burnette top scored for Pacesetters with a game high 20 points. He was assisted by Kwesi Roberts, Randy Richardson and Sherlan Legall who netted eight, eight and seven points respectively.
On the other side, Drunson McAuley recorded a team high 10 points while Mortimer Williams was the next best scorer with nine points. While the opening quarter witnessed Pacesetters snatching the lead, it was a cagey and erratic display from both teams as the period finished 10-5.
Burnette top scored in the period with four points while recent recruit Legall copped three points. For the Mandela Avenue based unit, Williams netted three points.
The Parade and Carmichael streets based heavyweight then extended their advantage in the second stanza as they outscored their foe by a 22-11 margin to go into the half-time interval ahead at 32-16.
Although six players netted at least one point in the period for Pacesetters, it was Richardson who led all the scorers in the stanza with six points from three layups, with the next best scorer coming in the form of Burnette with five points from two layups and a free throw.
Chipping in with four points through two layups was Legall. For Nets, the veteran McAuley battled his way to six points through two free throws and a layup.
On the back foot for most of the matchup, Nets tried to stage a second half comeback, netting 15 points while restricting Pacesetters to 10 points in the third stanza to enter the final period trailing 42-31.
McAuley was once again the top shot for Nets with four points from a layup and two free throw conversions. He was assisted by Pelham Doris, Williams and Michael Richards who netted three points apiece.
On the other hand, Roberts led Pacesetters with eight points highlighted by two three-point daggers at 7:24 and 3:45 respectively and a simple layup. The other Pacesetters scorer in the period was Royston Siland with two points.
However any hope of a Nets fourth quarter comeback was extinguished as they were outhustled in the final period by a 17-13 score line. Burnette was the difference in the period with 11 points from four layups and three free throw conversions.
For the Mandela Avenue unit, Yeverekh Israel netted four point from two layups while Williams and Hodayah Stewart recorded one three-pointer each.
Meanwhile, the University of Guyana (UG) Trojans defeated Ravens via a walkover in their slated 1st division third place playoff. Action in the event is slated to continue at the same locale on Saturday with another doubleheader.
In the opening fixture at 18:30hrs, UG Trojans will lock horns with second division outfit Pepsi Sonics in the second relegation playoff.
The feature contest of the night at 20:30hrs will pit Plaisance Guardians against Colts in the deciding matchup for the 1st division championship. Presently, the three-match series stands at 1-1.
