By Rawle Toney
It was an evening filled with breath-taking moments when the sixth annual Supligen All-Star week-end games commenced Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
“Sweet revenge” were the chants of the Linden supporters as they watched a pulsating game between their team and Georgetown go down to the wire with Linden coming out victorious edging out their rivals 79-77.
Even though Georgetown had a better team on paper, Linden had four players who turned in memorable performances to ensure that their team exacted revenge for two previous defeats.
National players Akeem Kanhai and Orin Rose, along with sharp-shooter Chris Williams and the lanky centre Travis Leitch, were Linden’s strike-force.
From jump ball it was clear that they meant business.
Linden immediately went on a 12-0 run with Kanhai taking command on both ends of the court, forcing coach Mark Agard to call a time out.
The Georgetown side came back and played with a bit more purpose but the Linden side held its composure to lead 19-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Georgetown seemed unable to keep up with the pace of Linden’s game which resulted in Kanhai and his men piling on the points.
With Chris Williams and Orin Rose turning up the pressure offensively and Travis Leitch and Kanhai taking care of the defence, Linden coasted to a 13-point lead (47-34) at half-time.
Linden continued to thwart moves by John Fraser and his Georgetown team-mates and maintained the 13-point lead at the end of the third quarter (63-50).
In the final quarter, Georgetown gained a new lease on life as Fraser, Travis Burnett, Jermain Slater and Tyrone Hamid all stepped up to the plate.
They unleashed a relentless attack on the Linden defence which saw them tying the game with 1:26s left in the fourth quarter.
By this time fans from both teams were well into the game with chants of “Linden” and “Defense” coming from the stands.
Fraser then made two shots to send Georgetown up by two 76-74 and then with 48 seconds left, he was fouled by Chris Williams and was sent to the line.
But the Georgetown captain only converted one of the two free throws for a 77-75 points lead.
It was at this stage that Linden’s Mark Rose made his presence felt.
Rose who had spent most of the night on the bench scored when it mattered most for the Linden side.
Rose, who was fouled, was sent to the free throw line with the scores 77-75 in favor of Georgetown.
He made one shot and missed the other with 8.5 seconds left on the clock.
However, FIBA accredited referee Sherwin Henry called an `Over and Back’ violation the on Travis Burnett which gave Linden possession.
The ball was inbounded to Kanhai who made a long pass to a lurking Rose at the three point line and the rest, as they say was history.
Rose’s shot was good and pandemonium broke out as the Linden supporters engulfed the court even though 1.5 seconds remained in the game.
After the court was cleared there was nothing much Georgetown players could do but stand by and watch their rivals celebrate the victory after their classic battle.
Apart from Mark Rose who scored four crucial points, the Linden team had the All-Star performance from their four leading players to thank for the vcotory.
Kanhai finished with a triple double, scoring 12 points, sneaking in 10 steals, snatching 15 rebounds and two block shots and was named the MVP of the game.
Williams, who also had a very good game finished with 15 points while Travis Leitch had 17, Marvin Russell 12 and Orin Rose, 16.
Fraser finished with a game high 20 points while Hamid and Burnett scored 15 and 13 points respectively.
