Defending champions Guidance, one of three undefeated teams remaining in the New Breed Basketball Association this season, withstood a frantic fourth quarter rally by the Lakers to win, 71-65, Friday night at the Ronald Charles gymnasium. It was the second night in a row that a team down big early has rallied late only to come up just short in the end.
Bothe teams started slow, with their defense being at the forefront in the first quarter. This resulted in a low-scoring affair that saw the teams knotted at 13 at the end of the opening period.
Guidance defensively continued to play well in the second quarter holding the Lakers to three points less at 10, while scratching out 24 themselves for a 37-23 lead at the half.
The lead would be 12 at the end of the third quarter at 54-42 as the Lakers were two points better at 19-17 in another low-scoring period. The Lakers spread things around offensively, while AQ St. Hill, with 14, scored all but three of Guidance points in the period.
The Lakers rallied in the fourth, getting to within three at one point, but Guidance was able to do just enough to hold on for the win. They were outscored 23-17, but some missed free throws by the Lakers and some clutch shots by the champs was the difference down the stretch.
St. Hill led Guidance with a game-high 29 points, while teammate Shakeem Edwards netted 13. For the Lakers, it was Robers Duck leading the way with a team-high 16 points, Rashawn Williams had 14, and Charles Moorhead dropped in13.
