Station Hill Cavaliers score 71-64 victory over Burger King Clapham Bulls

At halftime, the Bulls lead 27-38 with former national player Akeem Marsh taking advantage of being the tallest and biggest player on the court. Grabbing multiple offensive rebounds and scoring easily under the hoop. Though the lead was maintained, it was obvious that both teams were having a rough time of things scoring.

In the second half, only one team made the adjustment successfully. Joel Hunte and Brandon Ruck took to the court and with the addition of two players who attacked the basket along with Dijon Hunte being a three-point threat on the wings, Station Hill took over the game. Ruck and Hunte drove hard and drew the necessary contact to get to the free throw line. It saw the game swing from 28-45 with seven minutes to play in the third, to tie at 49 with the clock on 5:25, a 21-4 run by the Cavs.

Clapham could only muster 11 points in the third and 15 in the fourth. A team that prides itself on being able to infiltrate any defense and make it to the ring, were unable to put the ball into the hoop. Tehron King had multiple opportunities and missed easy baskets under the ring and Andrew Ifill drove well but instead of finishing strong, seemed more to be trying to draw the foul call from the referees than actually scoring.

Young Dijon Hunte then stepped up to take over the game. Sinking consecutive treys in the fourth followed by a clear out jumper and then an ‘And 1’ in the lane, where he converted the free throw propelled Station Hill to a nine-point advantage, 69-60 with just over a minute to play in the game. That along with tough defense by Station Hill made all the difference and sealed the seven points victory.

Though Marsh was seen camping outside the three-point line for the majority of the second half, he still managed to finish with a team high 22 points with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Rahiim Gibbons, also of the Bulls, was the only other player in double figures, scoring 18 points with four assists and three steals.

Dijon Hunte led the Cavs with 22 points, four rebounds and four assists, supported by Darren Hunte with 18 points and double doubles by Saeed Norville with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Zachary Cave with 11 points and 12 rebounds. It was an off night for Joel Hunte with three points but he made his presence felt in the key, grabbing a team high 14 boards.

The other game saw the Lakers Sports Club defeat the National Sports Council Combined Schools Tridents 108-74. The Lakers had six players in double digits with Veteran Keefe Birkett top scoring on the night with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Makaari Jones had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, Justin Bramao put up 20 points and 13 rebounds and Anand Joseph-Thorne, Johnathan Dottin and David Walkes added 13, 12 and 11 points respectively.

For the Tridents Antoine Winter had 19 points with 12 rebounds and Kaliel Austin scored 11 and Khaleb Gaskin 10. (OS)