Game one of the ISSA/KFC Southern Conference Senior Basketball finals lived up to all the hype and expectations when Kingston College (KC) and Wolmer’s Boys met at the Stadium Courts last Thursday.
Game one of the ISSA/KFC Southern Conference Senior Basketball finals lived up to all the hype and expectations when Kingston College (KC) and Wolmer’s Boys met at the Stadium Courts last Thursday.
With both teams battling nerves in the first few minutes the lead changed hands quickly as Wolmer’s edged the contest 7-6 in the early stages. However, it was KC who made the first run of the game scoring 7 unanswered to take a 13-7 lead before Wolmer’s scored the last basket of the quarter as KC led 13-9.
KC continued to pull away from their opponents led by their top two players Clifton Jean and Malik Pusey to be sitting comfortably at 21-12. Wolmer’s were struggling at the free throw line and this was partly responsible for KC being able to open up the gap.
Wolmer’s would finally find their rhythm and went on a run of their own to close within three, at 21-18 before getting the score down to 23-22. The closeness of the encounter brought the best in both sets of fans who cheered loudly for their respective teams.
The ice-cold Jean then hit a big three-pointer to give the ‘Purples’ some breathing space at 26-22 as the boys from North Street went on to close out the half 30-22.
Jean continued where he left off in the third quarter, by opening up with another three pointer sending the KC supporters into a frenzy, the chants of – FORTIS CADERE CEDERE NON POSTEST – ran out in the stadium and the Wolmer’s supporters quickly responded with cheers of their own.
A keen, engaging battle ensued in the third quarter with neither team able to put together any run as both teams defended well. Just when it seemed that KC would end the third quarter with a comfortable 13 point lead they had slowly built up, Brian Cameron, son of legendary Jamaican quarter miler Bertland Cameron, hit a huge three-pointer from way down town to cut the gap to 10 points and hand the momentum to Wolmer’s.
It was a good response to the exploits of Jean from KC.
The fourth quarter was probably the most dramatic. KC extended their lead to 52-39 early in the quarter but lost their momentum when Pusey went down with cramps for the second time in the game. Unlike the first occasion when he went down , Pusey was forced to sit for a while and KC lost their attacking impetus as a result.
Wolmer’s took full advantage of the situation with their big man Cameron pulling in the rebounds and hitting the baskets from outside, inside and from the line. The Hero Circle boys closed the gap to just 4 points at 54-50 with just over 3 minutes left to play.
Seeing the lead being whittled away, KC were forced to act and Pusey was reinstated into the game. The move brought immediate dividends as the previously static offense was now a well oiled ‘Purple Machine’ once more .
KC started edging away from their opponents again and when they took their last time out with 1:45 left to play in the game the score read 58-52.
Just as he had done all game, Clifton Jean rose to the occasion once more for KC, draining another 3 pointer to ice the game and kill off the Wolmer’s, hopes with only seconds left on the clock. The final score read KC 61-52 Wolmer’s.
Jean ended the game with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks, while Pusey had 10 points and 7 rebounds to go along with his 2 assists to lead KC to victory.
Cameron will need more support from his teammates in game two as he finished as the high scorer for Wolmer’s with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals.
Speaking after the game KC assistant coach Winston Harvey said, “We expected the game to be tough and it was. They beat us by 14 points in the regular season so we knew they had quality players. Thankfully the guys executed most of what we asked them to do and we were able to come away with the win today.”
Wolmer’s coach, Howard Harvey, who is probably the best dressed coach in the league, was humble in defeat, “KC are a well coached team, Wolmer’s played well but in any final one team is going to win and one team is going to lose.”
There is no doubt that Howard Harvey will be coming with something up the sleeve of his maroon blazer for game 2 which will be played on Monday January 27th at the National Stadium starting at 5:00pm.
Photo: Clifton Jean handles the ball for KC, Brian Cameron of Wolmer’s is in the background
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