Cavs pip Bulls despite Maynard’s heroics

By Andre Springer

In arguably the most exciting game of this season’s Co-operators General Insurance BABA Premier League, Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers held on in overtime to register a nail biting 86-85 victory over Burger King Clapham Bulls, despite a 34-point performance by Simeon Maynard on Sunday.

Maynard shot 50 per cent from the field at the Barbados Community College Gym, and scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and five in overtime, but it was not enough as his side fell just short.

The Cavaliers started the fourth up 14, (59-45) and looked to be heading towards an easy victory after a competitive first half.

However, with Station Hill’s Deveron Knight forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with five minutes left in the game, the momentum swung in favour of the Bulls.

With Knight out, the Bulls led by Maynard, relentlessly attacked the key. It helped to create space for teammates Akeem Marsh and Kemar Benn, who knocked down critical shots to reduce the deficit to five (67-62), with three minutes to play.

Knight’s return along with the play of Gavin Phillips kept the Cavs ahead and with 20 seconds left in regular time, Knight’s jumper over the outstretched hand of Marsh gave them a 71-68 lead and within sight of victory.

However, the Bulls called timeout and on the ensuing inbound play, the ball ended up in the hand of Benn and without hesitation, the forward pulled up from beyond the arc to tie the game with five seconds left, much to the delight of the crowd.

Station Hill thought they had won the game on the next possession but the referees deemed that time had already expired before the shot was made.

In overtime, Phillips fouled out after scoring the Cavs’ first two buckets, but Knight along with Brandon Ruck stepped up to the plate to keep their side in the contest.

With the scores locked at 85-85, Darren Hunte sank one of two free-throws to give the Cavs the slimmest of leads and Rahiim Gibbons’ last ditch effort was wide of the target to give the Cavs the win.

For the winners Phillips and Knight ended with 16 points each, with Saeed Norville having a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. Adriel ‘AB’ Brathwaite had 10 points and 17 rebounds while Stephan Ottley scored 10 points grabbed 10 rebounds.

For Clapham, Benn finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds while Marsh had 19 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks.

Before the game, there was a minute of silence for former national basketballer, referee and official Shakira Shorey, who passed away last Tuesday.

The referees and desk officials also wore a black ribbon in honour of their former colleague.