Laudat Spartans defeat Fond Canie Rebels in basketball league

On Thursday 12th, the Laudat Spartans defeated the Fond Canie Rebels by a final score of 106-100 pts, after over-time, as a result of the game being tied at 87 pts each, at the end of normal regulation time. Coming into this best-of-3 quarterfinal game 2, the rebels, leading 1-0, after an 11 pt. win in game 1, looked to close off the series and secure a place in the semi-finals next week, while the Spartans tried to ensure that there would be a game 3 on Saturday night, with a win for their team. Both teams had their full squads available, as they were both missing key players from game 1.

The game began, with both teams taking their time and settling into the game, as it was vital for either one, to get the win. The Spartans, though, got the upper hand in the opening quarter of the game, converting baskets on the offensive end, and taking away, defensively. They built an early lead of up to 10 pts in the opening 7 minutes, but the rebels fought back hard, and brought the lead down to 3 at the close of the 1st period.

The 2nd quarter began, with the game still being evenly contested, and you could sense that it would only be a matter of time, until it got heated up. The numbers in the crowd started to go rapidly, and both teams had their full support, with the numbers leading a bit more towards the Spartans. Baskets continued to be traded on either side of the court, and with this, the Spartans lead by only 1 pt at the half.

By the beginning of the 3rd quarter, things started to get interesting. This quarter belonged the only two players. Ronald Bruno for the rebels, and Jamal Serrant for the Spartans. Offensively, they could not be stopped by either defense. The totally did what they wanted, when ever they pleased. In this quarter, Bruno contributed 19 pts, out of his teams 31, while Serrant dropped 14 pts, out of his teams 21. The other players from both teams, played they bit/part role, but nothing compared to Bruno & Serrant. They game had changed completely, and now, the rebels had over turned the 1 pt half time lead by the Spartans, and were now leading by 9 pts, 69-60.

And, again, more wood for the fire. The Spartans opened 4th quarter, on an 8-0 run, to be down only 1 pt, in the opening 3 minutes. With this, players for the rebels stepped up their game, with Joel Mc’Intyre, Peter Ricketts, & Shane Guiste along with Bruno, starting to show their dominance. But they may have forgotten that the Spartans, too, had their own power house, with Yheudi John, Shaun Reid and twin brothers, Jamal & Jervon Serrant, matching them stride for stride. The game continued to be in the balance and with seconds to go, and the rebels up by 2, and it seemed to be all over, Jervon Serrant picked up a lose ball and put it in, to tie the game at 87 and send it to overtime.

In overtime, the rebels opened an 8 pt lead, but this got to become complacent, and not play defence, and allowed back to back 3 pointers from Jervon Serrant, to get the Spartans back into the game. Things went from bad to worst, as two technical fouls in the closing minutes ended a hard thought night for the rebels. There was a lot of confusion and argument, with players from both teams complaining about referees, but particularly the rebels, who felt they had done nothing absolutely nothing wrong, to be deserving of technical. The Spartans closed off the game and winning by the final score of 106- 100…   Series tied 1-1.

Top performers for rebels – Ronald Bruno – 37 pts, 7 reb

– Joel Mc’Intyre – 29 pts, 3 reb, 9 asts, 2 stls

– Shane Guiste – 13 pts, 2 reb, 8 asts

– Peter Ricketts – 12 pts, 6 reb, 2blks

Top performers for spartans – Jamal Serrant – 43 pts, 4 reb, 5 asts

– Jervon Serrant – 24 pts, 6 reb, 8 asts

– Shaun Reid – 15 pts, 11 reb

– Yheudi John – 12 pts, 3 asts

Next game: Friday 13th – R.C BUllets vs. Lily Valley Sharks – 7:30 p.m

: Saturday 14th – Fond Canie Rebels vs. Laudat Spartans – 7:30 p.m.