Down 2-zip, Nets avoid sweep
It’s money time in semi-pro basketball, but after losing the first two games of the finals, it looked like the B.T.L. Nets had come up a day late and a dollar short. But on Tuesday night a Raider sweep was avoided as the Nets looked like poster boys for Viagra. James Adderley has the highlights.
James Adderley, Reporting
Ever since man accepted the principle that it’s teamwork that wins championships, the huddle has become symbolic of that equation. And the B.T.L. Nets certainly would do anything to turn their current demise around. After a seven and one regular season the, Nets were met with back-to-back losses by the Raiders in finals in search of sixth semi-pro basketball title. Will the five game series end tonight in game three?
For sure it looks like a good short for Nets when four of the five starters combine for this Paul Swasey finish. But the Raiders bring out their display of two-man ball when Kevin Seroki hooks up with the wily Clinton Lamb Fuller. Give the passer the props; give the finisher the bucket and the foul as Keith Acosta and Paul Swasey make a swinging combo.
Still, it’s the Nets pulling away when Keith Acosta comes up with the steal and goes all the way for two to give the Nets a ten-point lead.
Of course the Raiders do have the league leader in scoring and Darwin Carter proves it’s not by accident when he knocks down this tre…He would finish with twenty-two points.
Hey guys when last you saw all ten men on the court scrambling for the pill–you how it’s not an every game sighting.
And here is A.C. Augustine making his presence felt taking it over Kurt Burgess for two. At the half the Nets are up by seven.
Meanwhile, intermission brought the league’s individual awards and among those receiving, Kevin Seroki of the Raiders has the most assist. Kirk “Shabba” Smith of Orange Walk receives the most rebounds award. My man Darwin Carter of the Raiders gets his prize for leading the league in scoring, while M.V.P. honours go to Keith Acosta, and we say congratulations.
But it’s back to game three and the Raiders come out of half time with long-range accuracy from Kevin Seroki. On the other side, Paul Swasey is having a super outing today, as he finished for Acosta.
In late second half play it’s the Nets with the lead and the momentum as Bovell finds Keith Acosta, who would finish with a two doubles of twenty-four points, thirteen rebounds, both game highs.
Darren Bovell also had a good outing posting a two doubles of twenty-one points, ten rebounds, giving team a ten-point lead right here.
The Raiders try to come back, so Clinton Fuller breaks away from the two-handed. However, down the stretch the Raiders simply had no answer to the team game the Nets brought to game three. The Nets pick up the 91-71 big W.
Keith Acosta
“I think having our back against the wall was the main turn around for us. We went into the finals on a cruise ship and we went on a cruise mission and the Raiders woke us up. I think they jumped on us the first two games and they let us know that this is was no walk over finals. Our backs were against the wall and we know that we know that we had to find something to help us get out of that position and put us in a place where we’re comfortable with and know that we can make a run for the finals.”
James Adderley
“We will say disappointing because you came into the regular season with a seven and one record. Which individuals you thought stepped up to help put you over the hump?”
Keith Acosta
I think we had a major performance from Mr. Swasey, Paul Swasey our young rookie player coming in. He came off the bench; he was in our starting line up and he played big for us. And couple of guys stepped it up another notch. A.C., Bovell, they took their game to another level and they help us get over the hump.”
James Adderley
“Game four comes up Friday night at the City Centre, there’s is no more tomorrow if there is no W.”
Keith Acosta
“Definitely. I think our back is still against the wall and the same intensity that we had on Tuesday night we’re expected to come out and play with on Friday, knowing that for us it’s another step to go up, for Raiders it’s their finals, so we can’t just sit back and let them try and dictate the pace of the game and win the game.”
James Adderley
“In game three a lot of people came out expecting to see the sweep completed, it did not happen. Tell us, what went wrong?”
Matthew Smiling, Head Coach, Raiders
“Well, you have to give B.T.L. a lot of credit, they came out to play and we surely didn’t.”
James Adderley
“But you were so dominating in the first two games, did something break down?”
Matthew Smiling
“I wouldn’t say anything break down. B.T.L. made a lot of adjustments on their defence, especially on the trap and it paid dividend for them. It’s up to us now to make that adjustment back.”
James Adderley
“Game four comes up Friday night at the City Centre, have you made the adjustments going in?”
Matthew Smiling
“Definite.”
So folks, we’re off to game four, Friday night at the City Centre. We can only say, it will be more intense than game three. Who has the most pressure, the team looking for its sixth win, or the Nets looking for its first semi-pro basketball championship? I’m James Adderley reporting for News 5.
