The first match of the seventh day of the Carlton Basketball Championships 2014 was held at the Hendry Pedris Basketball Complex between Old Benz and Avant Garde Basketball Club.
Clinton Thevakumar’s scoring rampage left the Avant defense somewhat in disarray as Old Benz emerged victorious after forty minutes of play when the scoreboard read in favour of them 80-71.
Both the teams failed to take their first look at the ring when two equal possessions of offense were given and they ended without ticking the scoreboard. Breaking off a zero-zero run in the first two minutes of the game Zygrimentes Krupskis drew first blood with a mid-air jumper off the right elbow to give the early lead to Old Benz. The equaliser was right back when Philip Vukosarljevic dished an assist to Diluk Fernando in the post-up isolation play. Clinton Thevakumar who went on to score an excess of twenty-five points in the game took his first look at the basket right after to gain the lead by two points. Though both the teams stood up for a steady start Avant Garde did not show any signs of carrying out the start they acquired. Their bad transition from offense to defence helped the opponents to pass wide across and fill in the lanes for the fast-breaks which they did at their best. The rebound percentage of the Avant Garde team was considerably low in comparison, which allowed the Old Benz to rebound and get another chance on their set piece which made them lead the first quarter by eight points.
Philip Vukosarljevic commenced the second passage of play with a finger-roll of the board reducing the lead up to six points. Though both the teams settled down well in offense during the second passage of play the hustle to the ball by the Old Benz was breath-taking. Intercepting almost fifty percent of the passes across the court they converted them into points when they filled in the lanes with pace and scattered the Avant Garde defence. The aspect of rebounding never showed an improvement when Old Benz were etching almost all and converted them into play after play to swish the nets. Avant Garde could not gain the height advantage inside the paint in both offence and defence since Philip Vukosarljevic was playing a forward role instead of a post player which was indeed a mighty blow to the outfit. All the cons helped Clinton Thivakumar to comfortably take the game away and let the Old Benz control of the game when the first half concluded by giving them a lead of six points.
(Half time – Old Benz Basketball Club – 42 Avant Garde Basketball Club – 36)
The second twenty minutes of play commenced when Christopher Imotsikeme swished the nets off a low post offensive play to reduce the lead up to four points for Avant Garde. It was a crucial passage of play for Avant Garde and they exhibited signs of settling in to the game when Chamath Dhanawamsa shot off another in to the hoop with the dished assist of Philip Vukosarljevic. Avant Garde doing exactly what their doctor prescribed for them, changed the strategies and focused on passing wide and filling in the lanes for fast-breaks which indeed did work out for them. The opposition defence was scattered all over due to the poor adjustment for the new strategy. Clinton Thevakumar on the other side of the stage was driving in deep and started drawing fouls off Avant Garde defenders while he made sure that he converted them into points which was helping them to increase the lead into double figures. A roaring come back was made by Avant Garde but with just twenty seconds to go off in the third quarter Old Benz socred again to increase the lead up to eleven points and held the control of the game when the clock ran out.
Avant Garde settling themselves towards the latter part of the game had handy minutes in offense where they reduced the lead into single points with five minutes reaming in the game. Philip shifting back to his usual position of a post player was playing his role in a commendable way in the fourth quarter. When the clock witnessed the two minute mark Avant Garde changed their defence in to a full court press which was hard for the Old Benz to adopt with pressure mounting up on to the sleeves. Old Benz being the better side with experience in the game showed how important it could be to the final decision of the game. Asanga Perera the most experienced campaigner for the outfit took over the game during the last couple of minutes in order to avoid defeat and to take back a handsome win of nine points back home.
(Full Time – Old Benz Basketball Club – 80 Avant Garde Basketball Club – 71)
