Veterans rally into Eastern b-ball final

WITH a style and grace unseen in the modern game the Brian Chase Academy Veterans displayed confidence, patience and an iron grit to advance to the Division Two final of the Eastern Community Basketball League, recording a 70-65 victory over Caledonia Clippers.

And Unit Trust Maloney Pacers continued to show up in the finals when they beat Sangre Grande All Stars 73-65 on Thursday last, despite Grande’s David Langton and Noel Roshford both scoring 19 points.  The Vets will meet Pacers in the best-of-three final at the Maloney Indoor Sporting Arena from tonight, starting 7.30 pm. Having brought themselves level with a 85-70 win over Veterans in Game Two of the best-of-three Big Four series on Thursday, Clippers came to the Arena with a place in the final as their evident ambition. Clippers led from the tip-off in Saturday’s Game Three with the first quarter ending 17-13. They led 36-24 at the half-time interval, and at the end of the third were comfortably placed 58-40. But the spirit of the Veterans would be revived and in the first two minutes of the deciding fourth period, Ian “Poison” Gomes, Dereck “Corn-bread” James and Trevor Reid combined for 10 points to start a determined rally by the Vets.

The Vets rally began with Clippers leading 60-50, a process which  included a Barry “Shoulders” Stewart steal followed by a Steve “Chase It” Edwards crowd pleasing three-pointer, and they captured the lead for good. And with determined defensive play, the Veterans limped into the final weary but battle ready. The Veterans’ were led by “Corn-bread” James’ game-high 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Gomes scored 15 points and snatched nine rebounds and Trevor Reid contributed 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. For Clippers, Edward Francis had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Wilt Vincent 14 with 13 rebounds, two assists and four steals, while Dexter Edwards had 11 and Kerwin Lares scored 10.