Shak Attack, Quarters head Basketball Championship

Detour Shak Attack remain the leaders.

Quarters pulled off a nerve-wracking two-point win over BTU Ballers while Petro Jazz got the better of the Ministry of Sport Schoolaz by six points.

Playing the early game, Quarters led throughout most of the game; but from a handsome 18-point lead at the half, they almost gave it all away in the final stages.

Quarters took a 20-9 lead at the first quarter and extended their advantage to 38-20 at the half; but by the end of the third, BTU Ballers had cut the lead to 12 points and Quarters barely got home, 65-63 at the final buzzer.

Kirk Wattie led all scorers in the contest, knocking down 22 for Quarters; Kendell Dottin added 15 while Hayden Holder had 8 and Kino Fleary and Richard Julien chipped in with six each.

For BTU, Clint Phillip and Walter Peters scored 17 and 16 respectively; Tevon Leonsingh added 12 and Kevin Flemming had 7.

In the late game, Schoolaz led by just one point after the opening quarter, only for Petro Jazz to edge ahead at the half, 33-32. The Jazz took control in the third, outscoring Schoolaz 29-17 in the period before closing it out, 80-74.

Kevin Sarjeant and Ako Pascal carried the Jazz’ scoring-- Sarjeant sank 27 points and Pascal had 25. Michael Pantin (12) and Louie Davis (6) also got among the points.

Kiev Chessney and Dale Copeland carried the Schoolaz in shooting for the second successive evening; Chessney sank 24 points and Copeland got 16, while Daniel Francis scored 15 and Triston Benjamin added 13.

Wednesday’s win moved Quarters United up to 2nd in the nineteam standings with 7 points from 4 games. Despite losing two on the trot, Ministry of Sport Schoolaz lie third, also on seven points but having played 5 games.

Schoolaz’ loss to Petro Jazz was their second defeat in as many nights, having lost to tournament leaders Detour Shak Attack on Tuesday at Tacarigua.

Andrew Ifill continued his shooting form for Shak Attack, leading the Laventille side to a 77-67 victory. Shak Attack trailed by one point after the opening quarter before opening up a seven- point lead at the half, 33-26; they extended it to 56-43 in the third before closing off a comfortable victory.

The experienced Terrence Mayers knocked down five three-pointers in scoring 16, Kern George chipped in with 9, and Jason Delisle, Andy Best and Kurt Christian got 8 each.

Dale Copeland led Schoolaz with 21, Triston Benjamin had 11 and Kiev Chessney got 10.

The win took Shak Attack to nine points from five games, two points more than Quarters.

Petro Jazz and Police are tied in fourth with six points from three games; the lawmen have been inactive since before the Christmas break. In sixth position are Valencia Heat, followed by Siparia Ball Players, who won by default over Upstate on Tuesday. BTU Ballers are one off the bottom on three points, the same as Upstate who occupy the cellar position, having played one game more than BTU.