Defending champions Boys Dem rallied with 31 points in the fourth quarter to edge the Kings 93-91 in game three of the New Breed Basketball Association finals Saturday night at the Ronald Charles Gymnasium.
With the win, Boys Dem lived to fight another day. The Kings came into Saturday’s contest leading the best-of-five series two games to none and was looking to wrap things up, but with their backs against the wall the young Boys Dem squad rallied from 15 points down to pull out the two-point victory.
“It was just one of those games, a good game,” said Kings Coach Pidy Williams. “Boys Dem came out with a lot of intensity, we got into foul trouble early and committed a lot of turnovers that did not help.”
For Coach Keith “Zoro” Swanston of Boys Dem, it was a great win for his young, shorthanded squad.
“We played hard tonight, but it was expected because we had no choice. It was win or go home.” “Our backs were against the wall and we responded with an all-out effort.”
After an evenly played first quarter, Boys Dem led 18-17, their only lead until the fourth quarter.
The Kings tightened the screws defensively in the second period and held Boys Dem to just 12 points while netting 21 for an eight point haltime lead. The Kings’ Jahreem Williams had the hot hand for his squad with 14 first-half points that included four three-pointers.
The Kings came out hot in the third quarter, led by their big men Cuthbert Victor and Craig Williams with nine and eight points respectively. They looked ready for their coronation as the 2013 champions, surging to as much as an 18 point lead midway through the period.
But Boys Dem began their comeback, cutting the lead to just six, 68-62, heading to the final frame. The Boys Dem rally in the third was led by 10 points by Kadeem Jones and eight from Tamoi Francis.
Boy Dem came all the way back to knot the game at 82 with 4:15 left. The teams then played a back-and-fourth game that came down to the wire.
When the dust cleared the defending champs were still alive in the 2013 finals with a hard fought 93-91 victory.
Six Boys Dem players finished with double-figure scoring, led by point guard Jones with a team high 23 points. Saleem Ross had 17 points, Francis with 16, Amadeus Derweer 15, Zomari Swanston 11 and Rasheed Swanston finished with 10.
For the Kings, their professional basketball player, Cuhbert Victor, who plies his trade in France, scored a game high 29 points. He got good support from teammates Craig Wulliams with 19 points, Jahreem Williams 17, Jermaine Mulley had 11 and Davonte Pryce finished with 10.
The series, now 2-1 Kings, will continue on Monday at the same venue.
