The East/West Fire basketball team brought their fire power Sunday night to the Burnham Court and scorched the Eagles with an 80-69 points victory in the Pepsi Street Basketball Series.
The teams met in game two of the night’s double header which saw East/West Fire keeping the Eagles team grounded with a barrage of shots around the perimeter.
The East/ West Fire team started coldly and was reluctant in recording their first basket while Eagles appeared to be the stronger team early in the game. However as soon as East/West Fire recorded their first couple of baskets, they raced into the lead as the majority of their players began sinking jumpers just inside the arc.
The Eagles players looked to get most of their points driving through the paint and were profiting on most occasions so much so that they regained the lead by the end of the first quarter which ended 18-16.
As the second quarter progressed, the momentum shifted and East/West Fire’s ball rotation enabled most of their players to have open looks at the basket which were converted.
East/West Fire’s well-rounded scoring proved superior to the few players who were registering points for Eagles.
Nevertheless, Eagles kept within striking distance and began benefiting from a number of fast breaks as the East/West Fire players seemed winded which enabled Eagles to take the lead once more 36-32 at halftime.
The third period saw East/West Fire being blown out.
But they reignited the fire with a blazing 11-0 run towards the latter stages of the third quarter which saw them edging into a 56-54 points lead.
Thenceforth, looking the more aggressive team, East/West Fire took control of the game, penetrating the lane while drawing the fouls and successfully finishing their three-point plays to close the fourth quarter with an 11 points advantage. In the opening game Melanie Patriots held off Bounty Colts in the closing minutes of their Division Three game to take a 66-63 points victory.
