Kerry Mc Millan poured in 29 points to keep Defence Force alive in the Men's First Division best-of-three semifinal series in the North Zone Basketball League at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo on Tuesday night.
The shooting guard led the soldier/sailor combination team to an 89-79 victory over Caledonia Clippers in game two to level the series 1-1. Clippers won game one 81-77 last Saturday.
Producing for Defence Force offensively also were Jamille King with 18 and Steven Lewis with 12 in a match their team led from the jump-off. The army/coast guard unit commanded the first quarter 32-16 and maintained a 12-point (44-32) advantage at the half.
The "Teteron Boys" led by as many as 18 midway through the third quarter but Clippers, determined to close off the series in two games, kept the deficit to 15 (69-54) at the close of the third period.
The Clippers team, boosted by the likes of post players Shawn Lawrence (24) and Miguel Williams (12), showed some improvement in the fourth and final session, outscoring their opponent 25-20. Lawrence scored 12 of his total in the final 10 minutes for the Clippers but it was too late.
Clippers had two other players scoring in double-figures in shooting guard Adrian Joseph and forward Kirk Baptiste, with each netting 10, but it was all in vain.
They will seek to regroup for the third and deciding match on Saturday at the same venue from 8 pm. The winner will meet either Straker Nets or Brian Chase Academy, who last night were battling in game two. Straker Nets were at the time leading the series 1-0 after their 97-81 victory in game one last Saturday.
Results
Clippers 79 (Shawn Lawrence 24, Miguel Williams 12, Adrian Joseph 10, Kirk Baptiste 10) vs Defence Force 89 (Kerry Mc Millan 29, Jamille King 18, Steven Lewis 12). Quarter scores: 1st 32-16; 2nd. 44-32; 3rd. 69-54 (All in favour of Defence Force)
Results
Sunday
Women's Division
Police 45 vs Brian Chase 44
Division Two
Game one: Shak Attack 82 vs Defence Force 71
