Retrieve Raiders and Victory Valley Royals were the latest teams to record victories when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Banks Malta Supreme Christmas basketball championship continued on Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.Derwin Robertson had a game high 16 points to lead the Retrieve Raiders to a 68-31 win over Block 22 Flames, while shooting guard Chris Williams stroked in 22 points as his side, Victory Valley Royals, edged past Amelia’s Ward Jets 60-57.

The Royals versus Jets game was by far the more exciting of the two, as the Jets with Orin Rose looking dangerous beyond the three-point arc were off to a 20-7 lead when the first quarter ended.

However, the Jets’ fortunes were upturned in the second quarter when the Victory Valley team went on a scoring surge to lead 30-25 at the end of the first half.

The Jets, however, rebounded to take a two point lead (45-43) to close out the penultimate period, thanks to a good all-round team performance.

And while the Jets’ efforts with their inside presence and the outstanding marksmanship to Rose were always in with a shooting chance, the smaller Royals fought back and were able to gain a 50-45 lead.

With less than one minute remaining the Jets lost Rose who was fouled out and that seemed to have fouled up any hopes they had of a come-from-behind victory.

In the first game the Raiders earned themselves another solid win after taking a 13-7 first-quarter lead and then at half time still in their favour 29-10.

The Raiders continued their offensive push to coast to a 46-19 advantage at the end of the third quarter before accelerating to a 68-31 win.

By Joe Chapman