Based on their impressive play in the first half Saturday against ECFH, the Media Association appeared well on their way to winning their first game in the Commercial League Basketball Competition.
However after leading 17-11 at intermission the Media lads could only manage 12 points in the second half and lost 32-29 leaving them with a 0-2 won loss record. ECFH who were also winless in two starts are now 1-2.
The Media Association trailed 30-29 and had possession of the ball with 25 seconds left in the game. However they were unable to score the go ahead basket while ECFH drained two crucial free throws to end the game.
Kurt Hyancinth of ECFH scored a game high 20 points and recorded two steals in the game.
Once again the big man in the middle Elijah Williams led the Media Association with 15 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Commenting on the game, Assistant Coach for ECFH said: “We knew we had to win. This was a must win for us. If we did not make it happen tonight we would have been out of the league and we can’t let that happen.”
Trailing 17-11 going into the second half he felt what spurred his team on was “basically the will to win. We realized there were some adjustments to make and to catch them on the offense that was really what it was.”
Media Association Coach, Glen Geese said,”It was a well fought game but we lost our way in the second half. In the closing moments players failed to recognize or realize game situations.We lost it here in the last couple of minutes. It was a case of panicking at the end.”
When asked what positives can you take from the game the coach replied: “We played with good energy. Our defense stood up. Where we failed was converting easy baskets and turning over the ball at crucial situations.”
In another game played Saturday evening, Sandals got past Goddard Group St Lucia 45-42. Overtime threatened with both deadlocked 42-42. However Miguel Chicot made one of two free throws putting Sandals ahead 43-42 and Casim James sank a crucial basket to seal the victory.
Jim Medard led the winning side with 14 points and should be incarcerated for his seven steals. His teammate James should also be serving time for his seven steals to go along with 12 pts and 10 rebounds.
A superb effort by Dillan Biscette of Goddard Group was practically wasted. He scored a game high 17 pts and crashed the boards for 15 rebounds.
In games played Friday both the Royal St Lucia Police Force and St Lucia Fire Service were victorious.
Police Force were led by Calious Dantes who scored 14 pts and was a master thief with nine steals in a lopsided 58-26 double win over Insurance All Stars. Karlinus Augustin also chipped in with 11pts and 8rebs for the Police.
In game two, Fire Service turned up the heat and defeated Renwick & Company 67-38 win to give them a perfect 3-0 in Group A.
Marcian Calderon held joint top scoring honors for Fire Service with a tally of 19 pts, nine rebs and was a crook with nine steals. Teammate Owen Cazaubon also contributed 19 pts to go along with eight rebs.
For Renwick and Company, Joel Polius had a huge night on the boards posting Dwight Howard-like figures of 23 rebs to go with 12 pts, but that was not enough as they were scorched by Fire Service.
Upcoming Games; Friday: St Lucia Fire Service vs Inland Revenue Department at 7:00 pm; Media Association vs Renwick & Company at 9pm.
Saturday games: Insurance All Stars vs Scotia Bank at 6:00 pm; Goddard Group vs Royal St. Lucia Police Force at 8:00 pm.
