Pinelands Emerges Victorious in Thrilling Showdown, Maintains Unbeaten Streak in Barbados Amateur Basketball League

And then there was one.

Pinelands is the lone unbeaten team remaining in the Co-operators General Insurance Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Premier League after taking down Fusionz Boutique Station Hill 75-67 on Sunday night.

Both teams entered the highly anticipated contest at the Barbados Community College (BCC) with identical 6-0 records and everything to play for.

The game lived up to its lofty expectations and seemed headed for a nerve-racking ending with the Cavs holding a slim 59-57 lead with five minutes remaining in the contest.

However, Pinelands’ trio of Rasheed Maynard, Deroni Hurley and Rachad Hall came to their side’s rescue with stellar defensive play.

They were able to keep the Cavalier guards out of the paint and forced cross court passes which were easily picked off.

Maynard especially, was a menace and picked the pockets of Cavaliers’ star player Deveron Knight on three possessions in the final two minutes, which led to baskets at the other end to seal the deal.

Earlier, with everything to prove against his former side, Knight dominated the contest in the first half, scoring 19 of his eventual 21 points.

Pinelands, meanwhile, struggled offensively in the opening period, leading to them trailing 13-7 at the end of the first quarter. It was the first time in over two years they scored less than 10 points in a quarter.

Both teams adjusted and found their footing in the second quarter, with the score tied 33-33 at halftime.

However, in the ensuing quarter Knight ran out of gas, but Zachary Cave, who topscored for the Cavs with 23 points, together with Brandon Ruck picked up the slack to keep their side in the game.

Despite those efforts, some silky finishes by Hall and timely blocks by Kiserian Adams gave Pinelands a 54-53 lead heading into the final quarter.

For Pinelands, which improved their record to 7-0, Adams finished with a team high 15 points and 13 rebounds, Maynard had 14 points, Deroni Hurley scored 13 points, Hall contributed 12 points and Derion Hurley added 11 points.

Apart from Cave and Knight, Dijon Hunte of the Cavaliers was the only other player in double digits with 10 points.

The third game of the afternoon was filled with fireworks as Joel Hunte of C.A.M. Smart Assurance City United Celtics attempted to carry his team over the Burger King Clapham Bulls.

Despite his 27-point effort, Bulls emerged victorious 74-71, to improve their record to 5-2 and cement themselves in third place.

Hunte’s teammate, Theo Greenidge had a chance to cut the lead to two with seven seconds left with Celtics trailing 74-70, but split his two free throws and the clock eventually ran out.

The Bulls were led by Rahiim Gibbons with 19 points, Simeon Maynard had 17 points, while Kemar Benn with 15 points and Akeem Marsh with 10 points and 14 rebounds made solid contributions.

For the Celtics, Hunte had a game high 27 points, Greenidge finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Anand Joseph-Thorne added 10 points.

In the day’s opening game, NSC Combined Schools Tridents handed A&C Security Services Spartans a seventh consecutive loss, 88-77, while the Lakers thumped Warrens All Stars 87-63 in a lopsided affair. (AS)