RETRIEVE Raiders edged past Central Mackenzie Kings in a 51-48 thriller, as the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Senior League championship continued on evening the Amelia’s Ward hard court.
In the lone fixture of the night, Raiders’ Shemar Anderson, who netted the final seven points for his team, including a last-minute three-pointer that broke the 48-48, pushed his team to the winning 51-48 final score.
The Kings were ahead, 13-8, after the first quarter, and at half-time remained in control, 26-22.

However, a strong team effort from the Kings saw them take a 13-9 run to level the scores 35-35 after the pivotal third quarter.
Both teams were locked on 48, as Anderson led the charge for Raiders, and was there to make the winning basket to hand his team their first win, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd on hand.
Neil Marks Jr. registered his Raiders’ top score with 13 points, as Anderson got 11, and Shemar Savoury eight.
Ming Wong top-scored for Kings with 10 points, as Stephen George had nine, and Tyreese Arthur, six, in a losing effort.
Raiders gained an important win after losing their first game to Amelia’s Ward Jets, 52-33, in the five-team tournament.

The other clubs contesting are Block 22 Flames, and the unbeaten Victory Valley Royals, who have two wins.
The Kings lost for the second time in as many games, after being defeated by Block 22 Flames, 46-37, in their previous encounter.

They will be in action again when play resumes tomorrow (Saturday) evening, as they face the Jets in the first game from 18.30hrs, while the second game brings together Raiders and Royals.
At the end of the preliminary round, the teams with the best records will advance to the semifinals and final.
The winners will collect $100,000, the runners-up $75,000 while third-place finishers receive $50,000 and fourth $25,000. (Joe Chapman)