One Guyana Basketball league series finals…

STABROEK Eagles Basketball Club needed a win to keep their series alive and they did exactly that on Saturday evening to level the One Guyana basketball league finals.

Playing against the Kitty Campbellville Dynas Ravens in game two of the three-game series at the National Gymnasium, the Eagles showed they were all business.

The Eagles, despite an awesome shooting display, were pipped in the opener by 2 points 78-76 after all-round good showing from the Ravens.

This time around, the Eagles who were led by national player, Travis Belgrave, and facing a series sweep, upped their game to keep the series in play with a 67-59 win.

Belgrave following up on his 28 points performance in the first game, didn’t let-up as he again was the top scorer with 18.

The Eagles were out in-front after the first period with an 8-point lead, 22-14, their ‘up-tempo’ game proving too much for the seasoned Ravens team which struggled to adjust to the speed.

The second quarter saw them maintaining their lead, outscoring their opponents 20-16 to head into the break, up 42-30.

Eagles were boosted by the return of experienced players Sherland Gillis and Michael Richard who were crucial parts of their unbeaten runs to the league final.

Gillis would finish with 11 points and Richards 15 points but it was the stabilizing effect in defense from both men that put Eagles over their finals opponent Ravens.

Ravens meanwhile missing some key players seemed shorthanded and after a blow out in the first half could not mount a strong enough run in the second half to manage a close-out win.

The third period saw Ravens fighting back the tide as Quon Walton with 17 points and Dominic Vincente 16 points tried to keep them in the contest after eagles eased their foot on the gas.

Ravens Ryan Stephney had a quiet evening for his 9 points but they looked better in the final period, as the quarter ended equal on scoring 19-19; the Eagles lead still in intact to the final whistle 67-59.

The two teams will have one more game to see who will emerge the inaugural One Guyana Basketball League Champions on March 24 at the National Gymnasium.

The winner will pocket a million dollars with half that amount for second place.

The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, G-Boat Guyana and the National Sports Commission.