It is often said in the basketball community that free-throws win games and this was exemplified on Thursday night when the Ravens defeated the Scorpions 77-75 in overtime in game one of their three-game series in the Division Three final of the Pepsi Street Playoff Series.
Thursday night’s game, which was played at the Burnham court was mostly decided from the free-throw line in the final moments of overtime as both teams desperately guarded their baskets, picking up fouls in the process as they tried to prevent the opposing side from getting the upper hand in overtime.
In the periods prior to the additional time, Ravens had kept Scorpions’ leading Division Three scorer, Shelroy Thomas contained and silent in the opening quarter. They complemented this strategy by working their way around Scorpions’ Forwards in the paint and accumulated a six-point lead in the process.
The Scorpions entered the second quarter trailing 21-15 and the Ravens extended the lead even as Thomas found some space and netted one from downtown.
Attempting to fend off Ravens on the inside Scorpions picked up multiple fouls and went down at halftime 37-29 after the Ravens made good their shots from the line.
The Scorpions trailed from the opening minutes of the first quarter but they finally clawed their way ahead (51-50) with the final shot of the third quarter to set up the final period showdown.
The team’s last quarter efforts to pick up the win in game one bubbled into overtime as both sides answered the other’s scoring with a basket of their own, keeping the scores levelled or within two points for the majority of the final period. Both teams were on 55 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation time and those in attendance were already sensing overtime.
At the end of regulation time both teams pushed their scores to 63 as the Ravens scored on the fast breaks, while the Scorpions scored from the line after being fouled in transition while attacking the basket.
The overtime period was by far more intense than the game during the regulation periods and doubled in intensity within the last two minutes of the additional five minutes.
Thomas let loose, prior to being fouled out in the final seconds of the game when he gave Scorpions the advantage by sinking eight consecutive points for his team.
But while restricting their opponents from getting to the hole, the Scorpions picked up more fouls and paid the price as Ravens’ Keon Hayles was flawless in executing his team’s final four baskets from the free-throw line, putting his team ahead by three with less than 10 seconds remaining.
As Thomas rode the bench after being fouled out with two seconds remaining, Scorpions’ Sheldon Frank was the go-to man to attempt a three-pointer which would level the scores and take the game into double overtime.
Frank was fouled while being blocked on his shot attempt and stepped to the line for another chance to tie the game. The situation was tense as he netted the first, but Ravens were able to breathe a sigh of relief as Frank missed the two that followed and Ravens retained the rebound to place game one in the bag. The series is scheduled to continue tonight with game two at the Burnham basketball court.
