Development Bank Challengers Exodus Basketball League: Heights tame Lions

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (April 15, 2015) -- Flawless Construction Lions’ unbeaten run in the on-going Development Bank Challengers Exodus Basketball League came to an excruciating halt Tuesday evening April 14 at the Challengers basketball hard court when pre-match underdogs Heights beat them 64-60 in the second of the three finals, sending the league to the last of three final games. 

The vociferous crowd that turned out to watch what would have been the deciding game had the Lions won, watched in disbelief with a few seconds left to the end of the game when star player of the evening Heights’ Shawn ‘Shabba’ Forbes hoisted his team from a tie of 60-60 to the winning score line of 64-60 when he fastidiously converted four penalty shots.

However, Development Bank Challengers Exodus Basketball Club Team Manager Mr Roger Gumbs has said that they are not in a position to announce the date this promising exciting final game will be played, as league players are in action on Sunday and early next week in the SKABA Premier and Junior leagues.

Judging from the results of the first of the three finals, which was played on Thursday April 9 where Flawless Construction Lions scraped through by the skin of their teeth, 72-71 thanks to a three-point shot by Ansel Revan that snatched a win from a sure defeat as they were trailing 69-71 with a mere five seconds to go, pundits were not surprised when Heights handed them the beating Tuesday night.

The game, which was refereed by Nigel ‘Jades’ Boroughs, and Walston ‘Steed’ Richardson, started at a fast pace, with Heights pushing the Lions to their own end quite often, even though one of their bedrock players, Glenn ‘Ghost’ Phillip, was missing in action. Roy ‘Mong’ Doyling of Heights opened the scoring.

By the time Lions asked for the first time out, Heights were leading 11-3. The game was always in favour of Heights and at the end of the first quarter they were leading 14-9, and at the end of the second quarter they were leading 33-27.

Glenn ‘Ghost’ Phillip for Heights reported for duty in the third quarter and was instrumental in keeping the Lions in check when Heights were leading 44-42 by blocking a Lions player who would have equalised the score-line had he not be ‘ghosted’ off. At the end of the third quarter, Heights were leading 46-42.

And when Lions lifted their manes spiced up with a ferocious roar in the fourth quarter to tie at 48-48 Glenn ‘Ghost’ Phillip changed the score-line to 50-48 in Heights’ favour and then converted penalty shots to give his team a comfortable 53-48 lead.

The game heated up and referees’ decisions were at time hotly contested by players from both sides, but play went on with Heights leading at different stages 56-52; 58-54; 58-57, and then Lions overturned the tables and were leading 60-58 a few minutes from the end, but Heights pulled back and tied the score at 60-60. 

In the dying seconds of the game, it was Heights’ Shawn ‘Shabba’ Forbes who spoilt the party for the Lions when he converted four penalty shots to give them the 64-60 win.

For Heights, Shawn ‘Shabba’ Forbes scored 23 points, made a remarkable 22 rebounds, with four assists and three blocks. Alex Thomas made 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists; Ray Liddie had five points, four rebounds, and nine assists, while third quarter entrant Glenn ‘Ghost’ Phillip managed eight points, four rebounds, and two blocks. 

Doing duty for Lions were veteran SKABA player, Ansel Revan, who scored 25 points, forced 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks, along with Delvin Marshall (15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks); and Anthony Grant (four points, 10 rebounds, three steals).

The final game between Heights and Flawless Construction Lions, whenever it will be played, promises to be a very exciting affair, and all basketball lovers and members of the Challengers community are looking forward to this epic game that will be played at the Challengers basketball hard court to determine which team will lift the inaugural Development Bank Challengers Exodus Basketball League trophy.