Ako Pascall hit a buzzer-beater from beyond the three-point arc to keep Caledonia Clippers alive in game one in the best-in-three semifinals of the JCW Invitational Basketball League, sending the match into overtime but his team fell to Stories of Success (SOS) Basketball Academy a narrow 101-100 defeat after the scores were tied at 89 at the end of regulation time.
The point guard lit up the nets with a match-high 30 points on Saturday evening at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando but his Clippers team went home trailing, 0-1 in the series. So too, Straker Nets, which despite leading for most of the other semifinal match-up against Defence Force, was beaten 93-86 in the second match of the double-header.
Young and athletic trio twin brothers Ahkeem "Fatto" and Ahkeel "Smally" Boyd along with Mohammed Elias did what was necessary to get SOS the win in regulation time but it was not enough to hold off a highly experienced Clippers side, which led after the first quarter, 22-19.
SOS bounced back well in the next two periods to lead 42-34 at the half and 66-54 in the third stanza. In the fourth quarter though, Clippers recovered and made a run to take a one-point (86-85) lead in the final moments of the match but SOS kept attacking which resulted in Ahkeem being fouled twice and he stepped to the line and connected all four free throws, putting the East Zone champion ahead by three (89-86).
With time ticking away Clippers got the ball to Pascall, who completed the three-pointer forcing extra-time to determine the winner. However, it was not to be for the North Zone champion as it succumbed to the one-point defeat.
The other semifinal was just as intriguing with the Nets, after leading for most 0f the match, going under to the army/coastguard combination unit.
Forward Kyeon Joseph was unstoppable offensively and produced a match-high 34 points to see Defence Force to a come-from-behind victory after trailing 18-15, 42-38 and 63-61 at the end of the first three quarters respectively.
Joseph combined on offence with Kerry McMillan (13), Kensley Sandy (13) and Brandon Charles (10), who recently returned from the US after a stint with the Defence Force netball, finishing runners-up in the Florida Netball Classic.
Straker had five players scoring double-figures including points guard Joel Hinds (15), guards Jeffrey Harris (13) and Triston Benjamin (11) and post-players Shevy London (11) and Allister Martin (11) but the Nets still came up short.
Nets and Clippers will attempt to extend their respective series this evening in another double-header at the same venue. Straker will take on Defence Force at 7 pm and then SOS versus Clippers at 9 pm.
Results
Semifinals (Game 1)
SOS 101 (Ahkeem Boyd 23, Ahkeel Boyd 21, Mohammed Elias 21) vs Caledonia Clippers 100 (Ako Pascall 30, Shawn Lawrence 28, Kirt Christian 12, Miquel Williams 11). Quarter scores: 1st. 22-19 (Clippers), 2nd. 42-34 (SOS), 3rd. 66-54 (SOS), 4th 89-89.
Straker Nets 86 (Joel Hinds 15, Jeffrey Harris 13, Triston Benjamin 11, Shevy London 11, Allister Martin 11) vs Defence Force 93 (Kyeon Joseph 34, Kerry McMillan 13, Kensley Sandy 13, Brandon Charles 10). Quarter scores: 1st. 18-15, 2nd. 42-38, 3rd. 63-61 (All in favour of Straker Nets).