Hurley rallies Celtics late to shock Bulls and tie Premier League finals

It was a classic case of a game slipping through the fingers. The Burger King Clapham Bulls looked ready to slam the door shut on the 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics Friday night at the Barbados Community College. Still, in a heart-stopping final minute, the Celtics snatched a 96-91 win to even the Co-operators General Insurance BABA Premier League Finals at one game apiece.

Man in the middle – Akeem Marsh scored a game-high 25 points for Clapham Bulls.

Clapham started with intent, much like Game 1, using veteran and former national player Akeem Marsh early and often. Marsh bullied smaller defenders, punishing switches in the post, and opened the Bulls’ account again. Still, despite his hot hand, the Bulls could not break free of the chasing Celtics.

Turnovers plagued both teams in a scrappy first quarter, and with the Celtics firing blanks from deep (2 of 12 in the first), Clapham managed a slim 18-20 lead after one. Rasheed Maynard, critical to the ball movement of Clapham, was ghosted in the offense early, attempting just two shots in the first 10 minutes.

The second belonged to Antoine Winter of the Bulls, who lit up the Celtics from midrange. Winter, who had been relatively quiet in Game 1, poured in 14 points in the second quarter alone to give Clapham a jolt. Yet, for every Bulls surge, the Celtics hung tough and close. Kiserian Adams battled inside, finishing with his signature runner, and Deroni Hurley created enough headaches off the dribble to keep City United within striking distance.

At halftime, Clapham held a shaky 45-47 lead.

The offense of the Bulls clicked better in the third. Marsh continued his work inside, finishing with 25 points at a blistering 71.4% clip. Simeon Maynard was surgical with 16 points on just seven shots, while Winter kept hitting timely jumpers against lazy defenders. They stretched the lead to as much as nine points, 47-56, but costly turnovers by the Bulls, who finished with 21, kept the Celtics alive.

With four minutes left in the game, Clapham seemed to finally have enough breathing room, up 79-87 after a momentum-swinging chase-down block from Marsh on Theo Greenidge.

But then came the collapse.

Adams cut it to 83-87 with back-to-back buckets. Theo Greenidge hit one of two free throws. Marsh responded with a free throw to make it 84-88 with 72 seconds left, but then entered ‘The Maestro’ Deroni Hurley.

Hurley, who had been relatively contained up much of the night, froze Marsh with a filthy step-back three to bring the house down and make it 87-88. Seconds later, Hurley picked off a lazy Bulls pass, crossed up another defender, his brother Derion Hurley, and splashed another three to flip the game on its head, 90-88 to the Celtics, with 46 seconds left.

Joel Hunte led City United with 24 points.

From there, the Bulls fell apart under the weight of their own mistakes. Two more steals, a fast-break layup from Joel Hunte, and free throws sealed the game. A late desperation three by Rasheed Maynard trimmed the final score, but the damage was long done.

Maynard ended with a puzzling line of just seven points on 10 shots, but a game-high 13 assists. Marsh (25 points, four rebounds) and Winter (18 points, 11 boards) carried the offensive load, but their efforts were undermined by the sloppy execution late in the game by the Bulls.

Adams finished with 21 points and four rebounds, and Hurley with 23 points, including five treys, along with five assists and five steals, were the wrecking crew that finished demolishing the Clapham resolve. Joel Hunte chipped in with 24 points and seven rebounds, bullying his way to the hoop all night.

In the end, it was not size, shooting, or even good coaching that won the game. It was heart, hustle, and a blatant refusal to give up. Now, the Finals head to a critical Game 3 with the momentum in favour of the challengers. Tip-off is set for Tuesday at the Wildey Gymnasium at 7 p.m. (AS)