Pacers, Army in SportsWorld Big Four

And in the first match of a double header on Sunday, the East Zone champs Unit Trust Maloney Pacers literally demolished Indian Walk 117-36 for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-three series.

However the Jazz, the South West Zone champs needed to win against the Army-Coast Guard combination if they were to advance to the final four.

The Jazz did get a good start to the match as they led the first quarter 16-15.

However, the Southerners slumped to relentless pressure as Defence Force got their guns firing.

The Army-Coast Guard men then were ahead at the second half 38-37 and then blew the game wide open scoring 23 points to their opponents’ 12 for a three-quarter score of 61-49 and it was all over bar the shouting.

The chants of the partisan crowd forced Jazz coach Barry Jackson to question the decision of the referees time and again, but in the end it was the Defence Force who walked off winners by a massive 22 points and a place in the Big Four play-off, along with the Royal Extra Lions from Group A.

In Group B action, Detour Shak Attack and the Pacers finished on top and also secured berths in the Big Four.

Strangely, however, the Pacers succumbed to a 88-82 defeat by Shak Attack on Sunday, but both teams advanced due to their position on the standings.

Action in the Big Four series will begin on Saturday when Defence Force face UTC Maloney Pacers, while Detour Shak Attack will come up against Royal Extra Lions on Sunday.

In the women’s category, Defence Force took care of Alpha Engineering Star Seekers 80-55 courtesy an impressive 25 points by Rhonda John-Davis and 26 from Alicia Liverpool.

In another women game, Brian Chase Academy defeated National Flour Mills (NFM) 71-60.