By Joe Chapman

ARCH RIVALS and top seeds Half Mile Bulls and Retrieve Raiders are set for a classic encounter, following their semi-final wins in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) and Linden’s 104.3 Power FM Radio Mash Open basketball championship, billed for Saturday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.The finalists were decided last Saturday night as the pre-game favourites came through against their opponents with the number one-ranked Bulls taking care of third seeds Victory Valley Royals 71-65, and the second-seeded Raiders overcoming fourth-ranked Amelia’s Ward Jets 47-45 in what were close encounters.
In the first semi-final, the Raiders were shouldered by their experienced power forward Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts to a close win as they held sway, 14-11 after the first quarter ended and by halftime were still ahead 20-16.
The third quarter was also close with the Raiders holding out to lead 32-27 and with Roberts in full flow they were able to emerge winners by a basket, 47-45.
Joel Webster and Parrish Cardigan were the principal scorers for the Jets with 11 points each.
In the second game the Bulls, led by their national guard Michael Turner and Terron Welch and powerful forward Travin Dryden ensured them a solid victory eventually.
Turner had a game-high 22 points and Welch contributed 21 as Dryden added 10 in their win. The game was one where the Royals were on top 13-12 when the first quarter ended and by halftime the Bulls clawed back to be ahead 31-26.
By the end of the pivotal third quarter the edge was in favour of the Bulls 49-48 and the overall team work of the Bulls enabled them to come away with a good victory 71-65.
The top player for the Royals was Harold Adams who was again unstoppable with 29 points.