Shaq Attack stop Army basketballers again

DETOUR Shaq Attack have whipped champions Defence Force for the second time this season.

This was in Game One of the Premier Division best-of-three semi-final series in the Royal Extra North Zone Basketball League. In a match on Monday night at the St Paul’s Street Multi-Purpose Facility in Port-of-Spain, the lead fluctuated in the first half but Shaq Attack won 87-77 behind a 19-point performance from Viergil Fraser, who also had six rebounds. Dexter Lewis added 15 points, five assists and five rebounds; Sheldon Dchristian had 15 points, three from three-point range and six rebounds; while Anthony Turner contributed 14 points and four rebounds for the winners. The prolific Steven Lewis had a match-high 27 points, while Mervyn “Unks” Jackson added 15 points, three rebounds and four assists to the Army-Coast Guard cause. Shaq Attack led 27-22 at the end of the first quarter, but trailed 45-43 at the half-time interval.  But they regained the lead for good in the third quarter 61-59.

Knockout kings Nation Flour Mills overcame a determined Royal Extra Lions 87-74. After leading 23-20 at the end of the first quarter, Flour Mills saw the Lions go on the prowl to lead 50-41 at the halfway stage and 65-57 at the three-quarter mark. The Flour men then put on the clamps in defence, limiting the Lions to only nine points in the final stanza while scoring 20 themselves to sweep victory. Marlon Bernard led the way with 22 points and hauled down 18 rebounds; Shorn Edwards, hero of NFM’s knockout final victory over Defence Force had 19 points, three rebounds and three assists; and Kerry Westfield had 17 points five assists and two rebounds. David Burton led the Lions with 21 points and four rebounds; Barry “Shoulders” Sandy got 17 points, three from beyond the arc; while Ronald Hernandez poured in 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Game Two action will be at the same venue tonight.