Pacers b-ballers win one, lose one

With two teams in the finals of the Eastern Community Basketball League’s Knock-out finals Unit Trust Maloney Pacers had to get it right at least once. However, Second Division campaigners Veterans stood in their way in their  final squeezing out a 59-56 victory on Friday night.

The match was played at the Maloney Indoor Sport Facility in front of an electric crowd and the two top Second Division teams did not disappoint with a down to the wire performance. Pacers, the home team on the night put up a good bid for the title with Jeffrey Bourne scoring a match-high 21 points with six steals and four rebounds. Also to his credit, teammate Kenrick Bernard put in 16 points and dominated the boards with 20 rebounds and two steals. Barry Stewart led the Vets scorers on the night with a solid 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Chris Huddlin lent ten points, ten rebounds and two blocks to the final tally. Pacers refused to lay down however and in the First Division final against Marabella Raptors came up with the right combination of defensive and offensive pressure, fighting off their determined opponents, winning comfortably 85-63.

Raptors’ Ako Pascal scored a match-high 23 points, with eight rebounds, five  assists and four steals, while Kibwe Joseph and Louis Davis both put in 11. Damian Caton contributed 13 points, three assists, four steals and two blocks to his team’s effort but nothing could help them recover. Having led 50-29 at the half, Pacers were not about to let the odds change and held on to their huge lead to the end eventually winning by 22 points. Derrick Boxhill with 18 points, three assists and three steals was supported by Miguel Williams (17 points) and a defensive card which saw him register 12 rebounds and five steals. Junior Harper was also defensively instrumental scoring 12 points and taking ten rebounds. The stage is now set for the start of the Men’s Big Four today at 4 pm between Pacers and Colours followed by the Women’s Knock-out final between Police and the Brian Chase Academy at 5.30 pm.