Kings take the throne, defeat Royals in close encounter 53-48
THE game lived up to all the hype as fans were entertained with 40 minutes of hoop-to-hoop action and in the end it was the Kings who not only came out victorious 53-48 over the Victory Valley Royals, but also maintained an unbeaten record in this year’s Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Trophy Stall-sponsored league. Both teams entered Wednesday night’s game unbeaten in their three previous matches and were also looking to finish on top of the other clubs, but it was obvious also that someone had to taste the bitter end of the stick.
The low score of the game doesn’t reflect how well the two clubs played as they made it clear from jump-ball that the game would not be won by the team who scored the most baskets but who played better defence.
Kings ‘Big Man’ Jason Alonzo made it hard for the Chris Williams-led Royals to even get close to the basket as the 6’ 6” player played a brick wall-like defence in the front court while on the offensive end he terrorised the ring.
Alonzo finished with a game-high 20 points and led the Kings to a 19-6 lead at the end of the first quarter after sending the Royals’ Harold Adams to the bench due to early foul trouble.
Royals coach Kester Jeffrey took to the drawing board heading into the second quarter and this saw his side bounce back from their miserable first period and, led by Junior National point guard Marlon Pollydore, veteran Julius Carter, Orlan Glasgow and Williams, the Victory Valley team out-scored the Kings 15-13 but still trailed by 11 (21-32) at the close of the first half.
Kings had little participation from Alonzo in the third quarter, as he scored only two points since he was subjected to the bench for the most part due to four fouls that he had picked up.
It was then Williams burst out, scoring 11 of his 15 points mostly from punching the lane and getting to the rim with fewer worries since his nemesis was not on the court.
Royals scored 21 points compared to their opponents’ seven in the quarter, due to Williams’ heroics coupled with Carter’s 12 points, Glasgow’s (9) staggering defence in the paint and Pollydore’s plenty steals at the top on Steve Neils, to finish the period leading the Kings 42-39.
The game took an interesting turn as spectators kept standing throughout the fourth and final period with Alonzo returning to marshal the defence in the paint.
Former national shooting guard Marvin Hartman opened the period burying a three-point shot over Pollydore at the top of the arc and then at the Royals’ front court, Alonzo made consecutive stops blocking the shots of Williams and Glasgow repeatedly.
The Royals scored just six points in the final period which came from Williams, Alwyn Rodney and Glasgow.
But Pollydore had the final shot to tie the game for the Royals when the scores were 51-48 with four seconds remaining. He received a pass from Williams at the top of the three-point area but his shot barely grazed the front of the rim.
Some fans and players of the Royals, however, queried the call asking if it was goaltending giving the fact that Omally Sampson’s hands touched the ball simultaneously with the rim.
Sampson was eventually fouled after taking the rebound; went to free throw and made both shots and by this time, the game time had already expired and the Kings held on to clinch the win.
Hartman finished with 10 points and Sampson seven. Steve Neils Jr continued to shoot the ball poorly but finished with eight points.
With the exception of the Wismar Pistons who have played only two games so far, the other six teams have only two games remaining.