Defence Force surrender North b-ball title

DETERMINED Detour Shak Attack sent Defence Force tumbling out of the Premier Division Big Four series in Royal Extra North Zone Basketball League.

A second-half rally led by some balanced scoring, carried Shak Attack to an 83-80 victory over the Army-Coast Guard combination at St Paul Street Multi-Purpose on Wednesday night. A  full house watched Defence Force surrender their league title. After being beaten in Game One on Monday night, Defence Force looked business-like as they scooted into a 25-16 first quarter lead, but this deficit was quickly lessened to 41-37 at the half-time interval. And with dead-eye three-point shooting by Dexter Lewis who stroked four treys in his 17 points to go along with three rebounds, Shak Attack took a slim one-point lead 59-58 at the end of the three-quarter period. And with Terrence Mayers contributing 16 points, three from beyond the arc, Sheldon Christian 13 and Kelvin Blugh 11 while pulling down 13 rebounds, Shak Attack pulled out a thrilling victory. Defence Force was led by Kervis King with 24 points, with Steven “Pampee” Lewis adding 12 and Mervyn “Unks” Jackson ten along with five rebounds, five blocked shots and three treys.

The winners will now meet knockout champions National Flour Mills who blew out Royal Extra Lions 105-78 in the other Game Two match-up of the Big Four also on Wednesday night. Kerry Westfield led all scorers with 22 points and pulled down three rebounds, Shorn Edwards got 17 points, Jason Delisle 14 and Kerry Joseph 12 for the winners, while Kerwin Lares managed 16 points and David Burton 15 for the Lions. Game One of the final takes place at the same venue on Monday night from 8 pm. But before this, Courts Horizon and Defence Force are scheduled to meet in Game One of their final from 6.30 pm. Defence Force and Royal Extra Lions tangle in the third place play-off on July 6 in the second game of a triple-header.