Two exciting games showcased round seven of the Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam.
First up, The Birdmen looking for their first win of the campaign took on the Youthtown Clique. The Birdmen made a promising start leading at quarter time, trailing by one point at the half and ahead 85-80 with a quarter remaining. Both teams began the game with just seven players and their shortened bench hurt The Birdmen more than the Clique. Nelson Giants forward Rory Fannon, playing his first game in the competition had helped Casey Frank and Johnny Fesolai form a formidable front court for them but when he fouled out late in the third period the bench became threadbare.
The scores were tied 93 apiece with 4:10 remaining but when Fesolai followed Fannon to the bench the door was opened for the Clique. Lindsay Tait and Duane Bailey didn’t need a second invitation – the pair scored 65 points between them on the night and immediately seized the initiative. Despite the best efforts of Frank and Chris Fahrensohn it was the Clique that prevailed in the closing minutes to record their fifth win.
Final score
Youthtown Clique 109 ( Tait 34, Bailey 31, Gerrand 12, Jahal Ibrahim 10
The Birdmen 104 (Fahrensohn 23, Frank 22, Nash Oh 15, Fannon 13)
Despite losing the services of forward Nick Barrow who came to grief when he and Tipene Friday got tangled up under the hoop the Flava Flyers enjoyed a narrow 46-39 half time lead.
A couple of trade mark threes from Alonzo Burton quickly eradicated the Flava lead and from then on the game became a dog fight. Neither team could establish more than a two point lead, the scores tied 73 each with 5:07 left on the clock.
Baskets were exchanged in the closing minutes, a Jarrod Kenny score from a Hayden Allen pass looked to have won the game for the Flyers but a Brawlers time out with 10 seconds remaining produced a Henare score from an in-bounds play – the scores level 84-84 at full time.
Despite a couple of smart plays from Carew Elers it was the Brawlers that prevailed in the extra period. Burton knocked down his sixth trey of the night from the corner, O’Riley converted following a Henare steal and Nisasi Malua converted a break. The Flyers were forced to foul to stop the clock but the Brawlers were 100% from the foul line, snuffing any chance of a Flyers fight back.
Final score;
The Flava Flyers 96 ( Kenny 30, Allen 17, Mark Kelly 14, Anamata Haku 11, Elers 10)
Block City Brawlers 102 (O’Riley 27, Burton 23, Henare 21, Friday 10, Inga Solofuti 10
Standings
5-2 Youthtown Clique and Block City Brawlers
4-3 Flava Flyers
0-7 The Birdmen
LACEY LOWDOWN 