Hiran Wijesuriya`s shot from the line secures the match for HSC Blacks

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The eleventh day of the Carlton Basketball Championships were opened up for a full house of spectators where the Home team HSC Blacks battled against Old Bens BC.

Both the sides matching each other’s pros and cons on the floor shifted the clock to an overtime of five minutes to decide the winner and when the clock finally ran out the scoreboard was in favour of the home team 62-58

Both the teams set foot on the floor with a positive mind set with two handsome victories recorded during the last two games, each of the teams played respectively. Dhammika Perera drew first blood of the game with a shot down the arc which swished the nets for three points to get the early lead for the home team. The visitors were right back when Shehan Udyanga shot off a mid-range jumper off an assist by Clinton Thevakumar. Both the teams were equal in their height as well as their skills in the game which let the first quarter to be a tight one. It was good offensive basketball played in both the ends while the defence from both the sides were witnessed with many unforced errors. The home team were evaluated as the better team with rebounds during the first quarter without any doubt which made them to lead a tight first phase of the game by one point.

The second phase of the game commenced after a two minute break off the floor and HSC got the score-board ticking courtesy of Dhammika Perera`s three point shot. Though it was predicted as a high-scoring game, both the teams rectified the mistakes which they committed during the first ten minutes and settled down in the game which hardly gave either of the sides to take a straight look at the basket. Old Bens BC started passing the ball around and did create play after play but the solid sagging man-to-man defence from the home team did not allow the ball to run down through the hoop for points. The game was more of a defence tutorial to the beginners where much highlighted offensive plays was not bought in to the eyes of the spectators.  Though Sella Joyce`s and Clinton Thevakumar`s combination of scoring was clearly halted by the defence, the rest of the players on the floor put up their hand in scoring when they led the game by three points in to the half time.

(Half time – HSC Blacks – 24 Old Bens BC- 27)       

The game after the ten minute break did not differentiate much from the first phase of the game as both the teams were playing in to the weakness of either sides but the cons were less hence the ball game was tight. Both the teams tried to take a different look at their offence when they started passing across the ends for fast –breaks which both the teams benefitted equally on the score-board. Evalda Tivraga`s airborne skills squared the game with one minute and twenty seconds to go down in the third. The foreign players did not play commendable minutes of basketball other than squaring the game just for once.

With just ten minutes to go to decide a winner for this game the full house of spectators was right at the side lines cheering their favourites for a win tonight. Home team bagged the first points of the game and Clinton Thevkumar failed to convert his free shots into points to close the deficit. Both teams switched their defences into half and full court press situations sharing equal times on the clock. HSC led the game with just seconds to go down and it was pin-drop silence at the basketball complex. Clinton Thevakumar pulling a rabbit off the hat squared the game with a full court layup off the board with nineteen seconds to end the game and HSC opted for a time-out. The clock had nineteen seconds and it was anyone`s game to take back home. HSC gaining possession after the timeout were making good ball movement in order to secure the game but the hustle and the defence of the victors halted the victory for them during the time. Though the shot from the visitors after the steal swished the nets in style the buzzer went off and the referees decided to move the game in to over time to decide a winner.

(Full time – HSC Blacks-54 Old Bens BC – 54)

Both the teams were given an extra period of five minutes to clinch the game into their palms. Clinton got the lead back on the visitors` side in two point with a soft touch off the glass but Evalda Tvirgra took control of the game for the home side when he converted his and-one by shooting off the line. Dhammika Perera who showcased his talent at the most crucial points of the game managed to increase the lead and to wash away some pressure off the sleeves of the home favourites. Rebounding was not one of the key points that the visitors underwent during the game and it did cost them the game at the end. HSC lads penetrating into the defence and earned fouls off defenders which they converted into points. Though Zygimantas Krupskis reduced the lead up to three points the shot from Hiran Wijesooriya increased the lead back again to four points which was hard to close down with ten seconds reaming in the clock. Home favourites relived the hopes of the spectators when fisted the game with a four point lead when the whistle concluded the match.

(Over time – HSC Blacks – 62 Old Bens BC – 58)

ThePapare.com player of the match- Dhammika Perera (HSC Blacks)