La Romaine stuns Caledonia for first leg triumph

Captain Derrick Boxhill was unstoppable with a brilliant 36-point tally as he led La Romaine to a 89-77 victory over Caledonia, and one game closer to the $250,000 prize in the first of two third place play-off matches in the Hoop of Life Community Basketball League, on Wednesday.

The 12-point advantage gives La Romaine the favourite’s title for its second leg, away match at Paradise Heights Basketball Court, Morvant, which is scheduled for Saturday.

The first leg victor was outplayed only in the final quarter (26-21) after it took the first three 21-14, 45-35 and 68-58.

Under-21 player Kyeon Joseph of the losing team was the second highest scorer on the night with 19 points.

La Romaine’s Adrian Joseph finished with 18 points, followed by Caledonia’s sibling pair Wilt and Wesley Vincent who netted 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Both teams exchanged leads and deficits throughout the course of the encounter. However, in the third minute of the last quarter La Romaine, urged on by some 400 supporters finally stepped up on the offensive and was able to gain a 12-point lead before the sound of the final buzzer.

Following Saturday’s second and final third place play-off, supporters from Laventille and Marabella will witness a three-part final series for the first and runner-up spots valued at $1 million and $500,000, respectively. The first of the three matches will jump off on Sunday.

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