Basketball: Burger King Clapham Bulls topple KFC Orange 3 Pinelands
The Burger King Clapham Bulls had been having a dismal season thus far but their most recent conquest, the KFC Orange 3 Pinelands, was definitely the highlight of the season to date.
Playing in what would be the final game of the first round in the Co-operators General Insurance BABA Premier League, Bulls needed the 71-69 win to boost morale. Against Pinelands it would be a tall order with them on a two game winning streak and Bulls having only won a single game for the season. Things started positive for Clapham and they took the lead after the first period, 15-13 and were able to push even harder in the second quarter to go into halftime up 5, 31-26.
Pinelands were without Jeremy Gill and Derion Hurley but they were as well during their last two victories. Veterans Charles Vanderpool and Junior Moore are playing well this season and again needed to be good on the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex court for them to stand a chance. Even with them playing well, Bulls still extended the lead during the third quarter to go into the fourth with a 10 point (59-49) advantage.
Former National player Zahir Motara is a new comer to the team and has been picking up some of the slack with Gill and Hurley out. With his help, Vanderpool and Moore gave life to Pinelands to make a run for the win in the final 10 minutes of the game. The result was a 20-12 blast in the final quarter from the Pine with Vanderpool finishing earning a double double of 20 points and 11 rebounds and Moore picking up 14 points and 12 rebounds for his own double double with both player shooting over 50% from the field. Motara had 17 points in the game but they were the only players in double figures. In the end it was too little too late and Bulls were just strong enough to hold on for the 71-69 win.
Rahiim Gibbons had a team high 19, Andrew Ifill scored 17 and Kelan Phillips had 16 for a good performance from all 3 guards. The game was more significant to Bulls confidence wise but it affected Pine in the standings, dropping them into 4th place with 4 wins and 3 losses. Station Hill Cavaliers and the Barbados Lumber Company Lakers Sports Club are the top two with 6 wins and 1 loss while the Barbados Hilton Resort Warriors are in third with 4 wins and 3 losses. (AS)