…  LABA Trophy Stall  action continues tonight with double-header
THE Victory Valley Royals and the Kashif and Shanghai Kings are the only two unbeaten teams so far in this year’s Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Trophy Stall League, as both sides picked up convincing wins. Kings put out Block 22 Flames 111-39 in their most recent game to notch their second win in as many games played after they had defeated Retrieve Raiders 51-39. Royals are also two-for-two with wins over Half Mile Bulls and most recently Amelia’s Ward Jets whom they toppled 70-61.
Meanwhile, Bulls bounced back after losing their first game to hand Raiders another disappointing loss after the Half Mile team eased to a 64-61 points win on Wednesday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
Having only seven players in their repertoire, most of whom are from their Under-23 unit, the Bulls looked more composed than the more seasoned and experienced Raiders.
National forward Neil Marks poured in a game-high 22 points in a losing effort for Raiders whose best period of the game was in the first when they levelled the scores at 16 points and then trailed 26-30 at halftime.
The Bulls define the phrase “team work” as they unselfishly shared the ball to the open man and their game plan paid dividends and saw them lead 45-37 to enter the fourth quarter. Marks tried his best to keep Raiders afloat and junior National forward Dwight McKinnon also tried to rally his side to a win but he scored just 12 in his effort for victory.
Sean Adams was his team’s highest scorer with 18 points; Michael Turner 16 and Denzil Lovell 15 were the top marksmen for the Bulls who have secured their first win in the tournament.
In the opening game on Wednesday, the once dominant Kings team seemed to be finding their groove back with their 72 points demolition of the Flames despite poor shooting from beyond the arc by National captain and point guard Steve Neils Jr.
Jason Alonzo scored a game-high 26 points; Neils 19, Marvin Hartman 18, Omally Sampson 14 and veteran forward Abdullah Hamid 12 round off the top scorers for the Kings.
Devon Morrison netted 12 points for his Flames team who have now slipped to their second straight loss.
But even with opponents being completely outplayed, it was a good showing for the Kings after their low-scoring win over the Raiders in their first game of the League.
The tournament continues tonight when Amelia’s Ward Jets will try to redeem themselves from a loss to the Royals when they face the Flames who are also chasing their first win in the first game of a double-header.
National centre Shane Webster had a massive game against the Royals scoring 18 points and so did point guard Kevin ‘2-feet’ Joseph but they still fell short but vowed to head back to the drawing board.
Pistons, playing their first game of the tournament, are down to face a ‘red hot’ Royals trying to keep their unblemished record intact.
The make-up of the Piston is not yet known but for the Royals, they will look to their ‘Fab 5’ – sensational Chris Williams, Marlon Pollydore, Harold Adams, Orland Glasgow and Alwyn Rodney.