LABA U-21basketball c/ship …
GROUP A’s unbeaten Kashif and Shanghai Kings inflicted a 61-43 whipping of South Star New Ballers on Sunday night, while in Group B, Victory Valley Royals scorched Block 22 Flames 90-50 on Saturday, as the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s Under-21 basketball championship started  to take shape.
The semi-final clashes are scheduled for this Saturday after the preliminary round of matches, which will conclude today at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
Following three nights of play over the weekend the setting for the semifinals now seems to suggest that the Kings and  Retrieve Raiders are the likely teams to qualify from Group A while in Group B the teams looking set are Royals and  Glands Trucking Service (GTS) Bulls.
Kings brushed aside New Ballers after taking a 27-14 advantage going into the second half and won handsomely as Sheldon Noel had 14 points and Jermaine Johnson 12 for the winners.
The best players for the Ballers were Kulrick Benjamin with a game-high 16 points and Stravin Ettienne with 12.
The other game on Sunday night saw GTS Bulls romping to a 69-31 win over Wismar Pistons after taking the initiative at halftime 41-12, as Michael Turner (JR.) had 17 points and Travis Leitch 12 for the Bulls with Paul Gill netting 10 for the Pistons.
On Saturday Royals doused the Flames 90-50, as they were heating things up at halftime 50-15, behind Chris Williams  who led their offence with a tournament-high 34 points and Marlon Pollydore 22 and Marvin Russell 15 supporting  well.
Stephan Arthur and Kellon Sullivan each had 11 for the losers.
In the other game Satrurday night Retrieve Raiders, who led at lemon time 35-31, eventually beat Amelia’s Ward Jets> 57-54 as Jeffrey La Rose had 21 points and Devon Gittens 13 for Raiders while for the Jets Akeem Kanhai and Linden Fraser each netted 13 points and Marlon Persaud 11.
On Friday night the Flames were victorious over the hapless Pistons winning 47-25 after holding the edge at the break 15-10.
Their win was orchestrated by Stephan Arthur with 16 points while Pistons’ best player was Maverick Angel who got 17 in a losing cause.
In the other game Friday night, Kings edged Jets 55-54 after leading at lemon time 27-21. Sheldon Noel was the top player for the Kings with 23 points as Orrin Rose had 15 while for the Jets Akeem Kanhai had 19 and Parrish Cadogan 12.
Today, the final set of preliminary round matches will be played. Jets will take on Ballers and Pistons oppose Royals with the semifinals set for Saturday at the same venue.