DWAYNE  ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts and Akeem ‘the Dream’ Kanhai certainly saved their best for last when the two combined and formed an arsonary too powerful for Central Mackenzie to handle as Charlestown/Albouystown took the game of the best-of-three finals 66 – 63 in the Mackeson National Super Ward basketball Championships on Saturday night. Roberts fell one rebound short of his fourth double-double, netting a game high 20 points while Kanhai lit-up the Cliff Anderson Sports hall from jump ball during his run, scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds and picking up three crucial steals.

Again the statisticians failed to reflect how outstanding the players were on the floor but nevertheless, the hundreds that filled the venue will never forget how much they were entertained with quality basketball from both sides.

Marvin Hartman, who led Central Mackenzie’s score sheet with his 15 points and six rebounds, went from being the hero of the night to the guy who could have won it for his side.

Hartman, a former junior national Captain and national point guard, scored the shot that leveled the scores on 63 with game clock under half a minute, was later given a chance to win the game when he was sent to the line with the clock at approximately 10 seconds and his team down 64 – 63.

The huge crowd remained standing and was highly vocal as they were all advocating for Hartman to miss his two shots from the charity spot which he did and the ball fell into the hands of center Jason Alonzo who couldn’t have gotten a clear look at the basketball because he was flocked by Charlestown defenders and the ball landed in the hand of Kanhai.

The 19 year-old Kanhai held his nerves and loud calls of miss and cheers from the supporters sunk both shots which foiled all hopes the Central team night have had.

When the game started, Central Mackenzie who had lost to Charlestown/Albouystown (The Ghetto Boys) in the final game of the preliminary stages of the tournament came out banging and went on a nine and ‘O’ run with Steve Neils Jr, and Hartman leading the fight.

Overseas based Odley Allen; a key component to the Central Mackenzie unit was missing from their roster for the game given the fact that he was out with an injury and they felt the blunt of his absence after Kanhai went on a rampage.

The Junior National Captain scored his side’s first eight points of the quarter, all in stunning fashion decorated with flare and acrobatics, much to the delight of his team’s supporters.

The first quarter ended 11 – 10 in favour of Charlestown who went on to outscore Central Mackenzie 19 – 16 (30 – 26) at the close of the first half.

Charlestown/Albouystown tried to match Rodwel ‘Kobe’ Fortune with Neils but Linden guard outclassed the diminutive player and it did more harm than good to the ‘ghetto boys’ as they watched all of their hard work steadily go do down the drain because Neils was scoring at will.

However, the Kanhai-Roberts combo continued to be effective throughout the game and became more interesting when the side introduced Kevin ‘Two Feet’ Joseph into the game.

Joseph again is feeling the heat of the Charlestown/Albouystown coach inability to properly understand his ability as a guard even though the small and well built player has been instrumental in all of their victories in the tournament.

Charlestown held a 12 point lead (50 – 42) going into the game’s final period and things got interesting mid way through the quarter as Neils was fouled out only scoring 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, leaving it all on the shoulders of Hartman.

Neil Marks (eight points, eight rebounds), Louis James, Lawrence De Costa and Omolly Sampson were virtually inconspicuous in the game and Charlestown were able to draw first blood.

Last night was game two of the best-of-three finals and if necessary game three would be played on Saturday.