Monday night in the New Breed Basketball Association summer league’s second game at the Ronald Charles Gynasium, fans were treated to an exciting finish in a contest between the Kings and the Dread I’s which took double overtime to determine a winner.
In the end, the Kings who dodged a bullet in regulation time, pulled away in the second overtime for the 85-81 victory. The Dread I’s had no one to blame but themselves for the loss. Point guard Aswad Vigo went to the charity stripes twice within the last five seconds with the score tied at 65, but could not convert on even one of four free throw attempts.
The game itself was tight from the get-go with lots of defense and not much offense. At the half the game was deadlocked at 30 all.
The Kings were two points better in the third period and led 44-42 at the end of three. Things, however, got really interested midway through the fourth quarter with the score tied at 53. From that point on through the end of the game the gym was alive with excitement as boisterous fans tried to cheer their respective team on to victory.
The Dread I’s went on a 6-0 run to take a 59-53 lead with 3:16 to go in regulation. Four straight points by Ronel Branch and the Kings were back within two at 59-57.
It was 63-60, Dread Eyes, with 25 seconds on the clock when Branch hit a huge three-pointer to tie the game at 63.
Two free throws by point guard Dwayne Nesbitt gave the lead back to the Dread I’s with 21.2 left in the game. However the Kings were able to tie the game on their next possession at 65.
As the Dread brought the ball up court for hopefully a game-winning basket, Vigo was intentionally fouled with five seconds now left in the game. The intentional foul meant two free throws and the ball for the Dread I’s so all Vigo had to do was make one of two and the victory would be secured. He however missed on both attempts. Vigo was again fouled on the inbounds play and went to the line again, this time with 1.2 seconds on the game clock. He again missed two free throws and the game went into the first overtime.
The Kings opened the first OT on a 6-0 run to take an early 71-65 lead, but the Dread I’s responded with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 73 and forced the second overtime.
In the second OT the Kings this time open on an 8-0 run to take an early 81-73 lead. The Dread I’s responded with a 6-0 run of their own to be within two points at, 81-79, with 2:02 to go. They would not get any closer, and the Kings wiped their collective brows as they were able to hold on for the hard fought 84-81 victory.
The Kings were led by Nybo Rodgers, who scored 11 of his game-high 36 points in overtime to carry his team to victory. He got good support from teammates Branch, who finished with 10 points, and Devante Pryce and Claudell Abraham, who both dropped in nine points apiece. Vigo led the Dread I’s offensively with a team-high 24 points and had an all-around good game, but he just was not able hit his free throws with the game on the line. The Dread I’s also got useful numbers from Kareem Harry who finished with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
