Spartans defeat Mayhill in double overtime thriller
Spartans and the Pharmaceutical Plus Mayhill teams showed that they both wanted the win and it took two extra periods for the winner to be decided but Spartans went home with the win 65-63 in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association First Division League competition.
It started slowly with a 5-8 score-line with Mayhill having a slight advantage at the end of the first quarter and was looking like it would be a lack lustre and scrappy game for the fans on the sidelines of the Maynard’s court. Spartans started to work their magic on the wings with Damien Skeete and Philip Harewood starting to find their groove. Skeete who had 4 of the Spartans’ 5 points in the first quarter went on to score 6 more in the second and Harewood put up 4. It put the east team up 1 at the half, 17-16 against the north side Mayhill at home.
The battle continued with both teams playing more confidently as the game progressed. Harewood was in the groove and added another 8 points to his individual total in the third. Whitneal George and Justin Ramsay teamed up to counter Harewood with 5 and 4 points respectively in the third to keep Spartans within reach. The fourth was more George as he scored 8 points along with some help with Daniel Lovell with 7. They were able to catch the Spartans and lock the game at 46 all as the final whistle sounded.
With tired legs but a winning resolve both teams hit the court for overtime and that is when the big men showed up for the Spartans. Ryan Maycock played well in the fourth, scoring 5 points and the momentum continued with him along with Dale Franklyn, the other Spartan big man. With Franklyn pulling the defense to him, Maycock was able to score another 5 points in overtime. Ramsay helped his side keep pace with Spartans with 4 early points in the extra period but it was a big shot from George from beyond the arc that took the two sides into a second overtime with the score on 54-54.
Mayhill was tired but so were the Spartans but on they pushed in the second overtime. It was more of a team effort on the offensive end for Mayhill while Franklyn had taken the Spartans on his shoulders. He had 5 points in the period and with big shot that put his team up 1 and then a final free-throw from Maycock to ice the game, the Spartans were able to come away with the down the wire win over Mayhill.
George was the game high scorer with 17 points with Lovell and Ramsay contributing with 12 and 10 points respectively. For the winning side Skeete had a team high 16 points, Maycock scored 14, Franklyn 12 and Harewood was good for 10.
The win places Spartans at the top of the standings in the Grant and Garnes Zone with 4 wins and 1 loss. The team has a long lay over till the 28th before their next matchup against the Checker Hall Braves who are not a team to underestimate.
Mayhill are slated to take on the Police Sports Club on Wednesday and need to come away with a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. (AS)