THE men’s top flight is down to a two-horse race after defending champions PLS Hawks and challengers Premium Cobras won over the weekend. Cobras needed over-time to dispatch MBU Rockers, while Hawks held on to beat a short-handed Baya.
In the women’s league, Mont Fleuri put one over Anse Etoile Stars at the Palais des Sports on Saturday and look good for the championship title.
Meanwhile, Drifters have been made to wait before being crowned second division champions.
Mont Fleuri 42 ... Anse Etoile Stars 34
Williana Dubois powered Mont Fleuri to a much-needed 42-34 victory over Anse Etoile Stars on Saturday at the Palais des Sports to keep alive their chances of dethroning HotShots as women’s champions.
The only Mont Fleurian in double digits with 13 points, Dubois was instrumental in attack for coach Tony Juliette’s team who built their victory in the first quarter when they outscored the Stars 10-3.
They lost the second 10-11, tied the third 10-10 and won the fourth 12-10 for their seventh win in eight games. Their two remaining matches in the six-team league are against HotShots and RA Sisters.
As for the Stars, who were paced by Dynah Louis with 13 points, they have lost twice this season.
PLS Hawks 87 ... Baya 75
Still in with a remote chance of challenging for the title despite a third loss against Cascade Bullets the weekend before, Baya came to the Palais des Sports without Dave Roseline (overseas training) while Hendricks Denis wasn’t in uniform after missing training.
Baya knew they had a fight on their hands to beat Hawks, who had won the first-round fixture 94-79. They were not helped by centre Robert Léon missing lay-ups and running into foul trouble early, and sharp shooter Steve Denis being disqualified by referee Alain Uzice with 1 minute 30 seconds (1:30) left on the clock in the fourth quarter.
Coming into the match with a full squad, Hawks set the pace and saw their lead balloon to 22 points – 58-36 – on a Romeo Victor free-throw with three minutes left in the third quarter.
With two minutes to go to the end, Hawks, who had won the first three quarters 23-17, 15-13 and 24-18, still led comfortably by 20 – 83-63 – but Baya outscored them 12-4 late in the match to take the fourth quarter 27-25 to limit the danger.
Hawks’ Nigerian player Alao Solomon top-scored in the match with 30 points (among those four 3-pointers and two slam dunks) and he was helped in offence by centre Rodney Lozé (15 points), Daniel Victor (14) and Steve Allisop (10).
Michal Cupidon came off the bench to chip in 16 points to lead Baya in scoring, while Léon got 13, Stephen Malbrook 12 and Steve Denis 10.
Premium Cobras 71 ... MBU Rockers 66 (OT)
Premium Cobras delivered the over-time (OT) punch to beat MBU Rockers 71-66 on Sunday to stay in the title race.
The score was tied at 63-63 at the end of normal time and Cobras outscored the Rockers 8-3 in OT. Coach Cobras’ coach Guy Hall had four players – Nigerian Michael Ohiero (20 points), Darren Lesperance (16, including four treys), Amadou Sylla (12) and Steven Servina (11) – scoring in double figures.
Former Cobra Brian Morel had the hot hands for the Rockers with 15 points and he got help from captain Nigel Sinon (12) and another ex-Cobra Cyril Agrippine (10) in offence.
This is the Rockers’ third loss in a row and it must have been a hard two weeks for them after also losing 76-78 to PLS Hawks the weekend before.
RA Herons 38 ...RC Dynamics 97
Veteran Emmanuel Jupiter (27 points), Wilby Domingue (16) and Ronny Julius (16) combined for 59 points in RC Dynamics’ 97-38 victory against RA Herons.
Coach Jim Domingue’s Dynamics were always in command, winning all four quarters – 18-9, 24-13, 23-11 and 32-5 – for a resounding victory.
K. Marday finished with 9 points leading last year’s second division runners-up RA Herons in scoring.
Drifters 59 ... Anse Etoile 64
Luciano Moumou and company made Drifters wait a little longer before being crowned second division champions.
Moumou hit 21 points and Subash Mathiot got 14 before fouling out to help Anse Etoile ease to a 64-59 win.
Arnaud Arissol scored four consecutive shots from downtown for 12 of his game-leading 22 points, but they were not enough to stop his team from losing their third game in the league.
Anse Boileau-based Drifters were hoping to book their ticket to the men’s top flight with a win, but have to wait and hope Pointe Larue lose.
Both Drifters and Pointe Larue Falcons have lost three games.
G. G.