Shevy London ensured his Straker Nets made good on a second chance defeating Police, 111-103 in overtime to book a spot in the semifinals of the JCW/Quarters Invitational Basketball League on Tuesday night at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando.
The low-post player scored a team-high 23 points as Straker did enough this time around to emerge the victors. In the first instance when the teams met, the police officers prevailed, 97-93 in overtime. However, Starker launched a protest and won the appeal with all parties agreeing to replay the match.
In the see-saw clash, Straker jumped to an early lead, holding a 27-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Taking the lead was Jeffrey Harris, who hit three three-pointers in his final tally of 16. He went quiet in the second period and his teammates forward Colin Flemming (8) and centre Allister Martin (10) picked up where he left off and combined for 10 points in the quarter to keep Straker ahead at halftime, 43-33.
Though trailing for most of the first half, Police got a spark from duo forward Fabrice Fisher (27) and post-player Dextroy Manswell (24) in the third period. The pair combined to scored 19 points while their teammate Mickey Willaims chipped in with six to help the grey and blue take the lead, 62-53, heading into the fourth quarter.
The final session saw both teams pull out everything seeking out the win but it was the Nets, mainly through the offensive presence of London and Triston Benjamin (13), gaining momentum and fought back to outscore Police 32-21 and tied the scores at 85 at the end of regulation time, to send the match into overtime.
The battle continued but it was Straker making better use of the in the extra period. Here its leading offensive players went to work and came away with the eight-point victory to finish second in Group B and earn the final spot available in the "Big Four" semifinals.
The other teams moving on are Group B winner Stories of Success (SOS) Basketball Academy and fellow unbeaten team, Group A winner Defence Force and second-place Caledonia Clippers.
The playoffs are set to begin on Friday evening.
RESULTS
Police 103 (Fabrice Fisher 27, Dextroy Manswell 24, Jesse Hamilton 15, Mickey Williams 14, Ronell Winter 13) vs Straker 111 (Shevy London 23, Jeffrey Harris 16, Joel Hinds 14, Triston Benjamin 13, Sadiki Guerra 11, Allister Martin 10). Quarter scores: 1st. 27-12 (Straker), 2nd. 43-33 (Straker), 3rd. 62-53 (Police), 4th. 85-85.
Group A
Team P W L Pts
1 D Force 4 4 0 8
2 Clippers 4 3 1 8
3 Quarters 4 1 2 4
4 Valencia Heat 4 1 3 4
5 Prisons 4 0 4 4
Group B
Team P W L Pts
1 SOS 4 4 0 8
2 Straker 4 3 1 8
3 Police 4 2 2 6
4 Spartans 4 1 3 5
5 Scorpions 4 0 4 4