The New Breed Basketball Association playoffs is now down to its final four after Guidance and Boys Dem recorded series-clinching victories against the Kings and Alliance Monday at Central High’s Ronald Charles Gymnasium.
Guidance topped Kings 90-81, while Boys Dem knocked off Alliance 76-67.
In game one, Guidance was able to overcome a big 33 points, 11 rebounds night from Kings Center, Craig Williams to pull out the victory.
The game was hotly contested throughout, and only four points separated the highly touted Guidance and the surprising Kings after three quarters at 62-58. However, Guidance point guard Joelfry Polanco and forward Andy Chelcher both scored 11 points to help their team to a 28-23 fourth quarter advantage and a 90-81 final score. Williams tried to carry the Kings, scoring 12 in the final period, but did not get much from his teammates.
Lamar Bough led four Guidance players with a team-high 21 points, Chelcher finished with 19, Polanco 16 and Eric McBean netted 13. For the Kings, Williams had a game-high 33, and Nybo Rogers had 22. Guidance will now face the Lakers on Wednesday in game one of the eastern conference semifinals.
In game two on Monday, Boys Dem bounced back from a tough series-tying defeat on Saturday to outlast Alliance 76-67. At times in this contest it appeared as if Boys Dem would blow away Alliance, opening leads by as many as 25 points, but Alliance made a valiant charge in the second half that had many a Boys Dem fans with worried looks in the stands.
Boys Dem enjoyed a 15-point halftime lead at 43-28, however Alliance began to chip away in the third and they trailed by 10, at 59-49, after three quarters.
An invigorated defensive effort and a 6-0 run to start the fourth saw Alliance close to within four points at 59-55. However they would get no closer as Boys Dem would close on a 17-12 run to secure the 76-67 victory and a date with four-time defending champions Hoyas on Wednesday.
Wilson Ferrance led three Boys Dem players in double figures with 22 points while grabbing 11 boards, Salim Ross had 16, and Zomari Swanston netted 10. Alliance was led by Jerome Nathaniel with 21 points, Warren Christian with 18 and Andre McIntosh finished with 10.
