THE script has been written and it would be Charlestown/Albouystown who will play against Central Mackenzie in the finals of the GABA Mackeson National Super Ward Basketball Championships after they narrowly defeated Christianburg 74-70 in Thursday’s semi-final at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Playing in front of an energised crowd at Guyana’s premier indoor facility, Charlestown barely staved off a comeback from the Linden side, after Mark Louis hit a three-pointer with just under a minute that tied the game at 70 and then it was time for the finishers to take control.
Rodwell ‘Kobe’ Fortune and Kevin ‘Two Feet’ Joseph, unarguably the smallest two players in the tournament, have earned the reputation of being the spoilers and have snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat on several occasions and Christianburg had a firsthand experience.
Fortune ended the night with a game-high 24 points, five rebounds, four steals and one blocked shot while Joseph had nine points and one blocked shot, but unfortunately for him, the score sheets again blundered in reflecting a player’s all-round game and didn’t scratch a mark for the many assists he had in the game.
Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts was a beast in the paint and recorded his fourth double-double of the tournament, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds but it was from when he was fouled out with three minutes remaining in the game, that Christianburg made a run.
It was a game well played by the Christianburg unit who led 24-16 at the close of the first quarter and trailed by four (35-39) going into the second half.
They (Christianburg) did all on Thursday last but win, with their centre Nkossi Gurrick (eight points, 10 rebounds and two block shot), garbage player Quincy Jones (15 points and nine rebounds) along with Dwight Cooper 12, turning up but were turned down by Fortune and his side-kick Joseph.
Charlestown went into the fourth quarter with a 54-50 points advantage and thanks to Roberts, Akeem Kanhai, Fortune and Joseph that lead didn’t slip.
Christianburg will now have to play North Ruimveldt for third place while game one of the finals will get under way on Saturday May 8 when Charlestown and Central Mackenzie will battle for the tournament’s $500 000 first prize.