Clapham Bulls demolish Celtics to force Game 5 decider

In front of the loudest and largest crowd of the finals at the Wildey Gymnasium, the defending champions Burger King Clapham Bulls dismantled the 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics 83–54 in Game 4 of the Co-operators General Insurance BABA Premier League Finals on Friday night. The series is now tied 2–2, with a decisive Game 5 set for Sunday.

From the opening tip, Clapham played like a team with something to prove. They came out aggressive, surgical, and suffocating on the defensive end.

The Bulls jumped to a 24–12 first-quarter lead, forcing early Celtics timeouts and panic. At 28–15, with less than eight minutes left in the second quarter, a visibly fired-up Charles Vanderpool called a timeout, and, in his first emotional outburst of the series, he passionately urged his players to execute the plays and work on their positioning.

The Bulls attacked the interior relentlessly, scoring 54 points in the paint to 18 from the Celtics.

Veteran and former national player Akeem Marsh was again the leading man in the middle, bruising defenders and dominating on both ends. He posted 22 points and 13 rebounds in just 24 minutes.

Clapham’s Rasheed Maynard finishes athletically at the hoop.

With Marsh setting the tone, Rasheed Maynard thrived on the open floor and the glass. He ended the half with a layup to give him 15 first-half points and Clapham a commanding 45–24 advantage.

The Celtics, meanwhile, could not find the bottom of the net. They jacked up 38 threes and made only 10, five more long-range attempts than two-point attempts. It was stubborn shot selection and a consistent culture that backfired.

On the offensive end, City United was as cold as their shooting stats. None of their top players was able to find a rhythm.

Kiserian Adams of City United goes up surrounded by the orange of the Bulls.

Kiserian Adams shot 4-for-16 for 12 points. Joel Hunte went 1-for-8. Deroni Hurley had 15 but laboured all night. Clapham made it look easy, and the defense looked personal. Antoine Winter of the Bulls splashed a corner triple late in the second to extend the lead to 20, 41-21.

Junior Moore came off the bench and went perfect from the field, adding eight points and five rebounds in efficient minutes. Even Simeon Maynard, who had been Clapham’s offensive engine all season, coasted with a quiet eight points, but the Bulls did not need him to carry the load. The score read 45-24 at the end of the first half.

Tempers boiled over with the score at 66–48 in the fourth. Celtics forward Tehron King tangled off the ball with Marsh, triggering a brief scuffle that referees quickly de-escalated. It was the most fire City United showed all night.

Down 75–50 with four minutes left, Vanderpool pulled his starters, conceding the night and shifting focus to Game 5.

The Bulls held the Celtics to 26.8% shooting, out-rebounded City 58–34, and forced a string of empty possessions down the stretch that deflated any Celtic momentum.

For Clapham head coach Kelan Phillips, it was a masterstroke. Not only did the coach manage minutes, but he also rested Marsh and got meaningful production from his entire rotation.

With the series deadlocked 2–2, it all comes down to one final clash this weekend.

Clapham, the defending champs, have the momentum and the muscle. However, they would be foolish to expect another off night from the shooters of the Celtics.

City will have to put the blows from Game 4 behind them, come out at the Wildey Gymnasium focused, and compete for the full 40 minutes of basketball. (Andre Springer)