Kobras and Wranglers recorded hard-fought wins when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) U-23 Championship continued on Saturday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Kobras defeated Pacesetters 83-78 in overtime. Elijah David tallied an impressive 35 points in the win, with the duo of Ronnel Campbell and Joshua Thompson supporting with 11 points each. On the other side, Neon Dover amassed 28 points, while the combination of Quasie Roberts and Khayeel King scored 15 and 12 points apiece.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest was established in the first stanza, as Pacesetters seized the initial advantage at 14-11. Kobras responded in the second stanza, as they outscored their opponent 22-10 to take command of the fixture at 33-24 heading into the halftime interval.
Kobras maintained their marginal nine-point lead at the conclusion of the third period at 49-40, as both teams netted 16 points. However, overtime was then required to settle the outcome, as Pacesetters out-hustled Kobras 26-17 to level the contest at 66-66.
Nevertheless, Kobras would then secure the win as they outshot Pacesetters 17-12 in the extra time interval.
Similarly, Wranglers caged Caimans 66-64. Emmanuel Atherly amassed an impressive 33 points in the win, while Deacon Canterbury chipped in with 12 points. For the loser, D. Grant tallied 13 points, while T. Kissoon recorded 12 points. Adding 10 and eight points apiece were J. Hawke and S. Greaves.
Trailing 13-16 at the end of the first period, Wranglers fell further behind in the second stanza, as they were outscored 11-15 to enter the halftime interval at 24-31.
However, it proved to be a game of two halves as Wranglers reduced the deficit in the third period, netting 15 points while restricting the Caimans to a meagre nine points to trail 39-40. The come-from-behind win was then sealed as Wranglers outscored Caimans 27-24 in the final period.
The event will continue on Wednesday at the same venue.
