THERE was great excitement on Sunday last, as basketball fans in Linden witnessed two closely fought games, on night two of the New Era Ent/Cell Smart Super-8 basketball tournament at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

The Amelia’s Ward Jets handed Retrieve Raiders their first loss of the tournament, edging them 52-49 in a nail-biting game, while Kings had the better of one of their arch rivals, Victory Valley Royals, 71-63.
In the first game of the double- header, Kevin ‘Two Feet’ Joseph sank what turned out to be the game-winning three-point shot after the scores were tied at 49 with 30 seconds remaining, to lift the Jets over Raiders who were playing their second game in as many nights.
Joseph, who finished with a team-high 19 points, was the mainstay of his team’s offence as the Jets had to withstand a sensational shooting display from the Raiders captain, National forward Neil Marks, as he poured in a game-high 22 points.
Raiders led throughout the game, first leading 15-11 at the end of the first quarter then 28-21 at halftime.
However, with his team mate at the last CBC Championship, Shane Webster (11), guarding him, Marks went cold in the fourth quarter after he had helped with side to sit on a 42-37 points lead to close the third period.
The Jets turned on the defensive pressure on the Raiders, forcing guard Coolie Hercules to make some critical turnovers that were converted into baskets mostly by Joseph.
Taking the game into his own hands, Joseph scored most of the Jets’ 15 points in the final stage of the game including the go-ahead basket after Marks had tied the game at 49 following a base line jumper.
No other Raiders player reached double digits – Geoffrey LaRose and Omar Sam each had eight and the other top scorer for the Jets was Alister Webster with nine.
Meanwhile, the Victory Valley Royals’ Chris Williams scored a gam-high 22 points but did so in vain since his side fell to a Kings team that went on a scoring rampage in the fourth quarter.
Former Junior National player Orin Rose lived up to his reputation of being one of Linden’s most dangerous shooters beyond the arc, leading his team in scoring 18 points, inclusive of five from ‘own town’.
Both sides shared the lead during the game but it was Kings who led at the end of every interval; 8-5 to close out the first, held on to a three-point lead at the half (33-30) but then entering the final period, the scores were level at 44.
But apart from restricting Williams to only six points in the fourth quarter, the Kings stepped up and displayed the type of basketball that once saw them as the supreme ruler of the game in Linden and one of the top teams in Guyana.
National captain Steve Neils Jr and his wingman Marvin Hartman each ended the game with 12 points, along with Omally Sampson 16, as they led the Kings’ attack in the final chapter of the contest.
Royals guard Julius Carter 11 and Harold Adams 12 were the other top scorers for their team.
When the tournament continues on Friday, Amelia’s Ward Jets will look for win number two as they face the New Era 12. In game two, Victory Valley Royals will be desperate to come up with a win against a sturdy looking Wismar Pistons unit who have already chalked up a win in the tournament.