Cavaliers looked to extend their unbeaten league record against a Turkey team short on size in the men’s basketball league last Thursday.
Neither side were pleased after a dismal first quarter that saw both teams fail to get into double figures. The second quarter was slightly better and Turkeys edged out to a narrow four-point margin at the break.
This was the Cavaliers first game since before Christmas but they finally managed to shed some rust for a much more efficient third quarter with the excellent Phil Evans making some big shots early on. A sweet three-pointer at the end from schoolboy prodigy Callum Randall gave Cavaliers a six-point cushion going into the final quarter.
A pair of threes from Evans and Paul Kilic sandwiched a surprise three from Wig Bregazzi to start the period but it was the coast-to-coast, ball-carrying layup of big Bob Gibson that really raised some eyebrows.
Cavaliers held a nine-point advantage with three minutes to go but Turkeys mounted a furious comeback on the back of some great shooting from Paul Ellison and Gavin Stephenson and had a chance to tie the game with three seconds left but Ellison missed the open jumper and Cavaliers held onto the ball for a fortunate win.
Phillies 58, PokerStars 46
The contrasting styles of Phillies, with their rapid-fire, run-and-gun offense against the much bigger and methodical PokerStars provided an interesting clash that was much closer than the final scoreline suggests.
PokerStars defence, marshalled by the imposing Michael Josem, restricted a lot of the driving opportunities for the Phillies and reduced them to launching long jumpers for long periods in the game.
That strategy works when the opposing team isn’t shooting well but Thursday wasn’t one of those nights, as Luke Genenza and the Manuel brothers put on a shooting clinic. PokerStars got their points in the paint in the main and Josem worked well with Eric Hibbs to dominate the key but Phillies were just able to do enough.
Celton Warriors 70, Tigers 47
With both teams ravaged by injuries recently, there were murmurings around the watching spectators that an upset might be on the cards as Tigers looked to sneak one over Warriors. Resplendent in their brand new kits, courtesy of new sponsor Celton Manx, the Warriors set about business with an early shooting display from Chris Wolfendale who buried a trio of opening quarter threes.
Another triple of long-range baskets from Wolfendale in the second extended their lead and Warriors rarely looked back, despite the best efforts of a returning Sean Doyle. A third quarter rally led by Ben Kneale and Dave Boyle pulled Tigers closer but Warriors moved up another gear to run out comfortable winners.
NFU Marvels 62, Manx Demolition 17
Marvels showed no mercy in a first half demolition of their own that kept the youngsters to a solitary Matt Middleton basket. By the time they scored their second after half-time, they were facing a 38-point deficit that they were never going to recover from.