JUST ONE GAME after having their streak ended, Station Hill Cavaliers very nearly started another one of a different kind.
Darren Hunte scored a game-high 20 points, including two go-ahead lay-ups down the stretch, as Cavs barely avoided their first two-game skid via Sunday’s 63-60 nail-bitter over Urban Vybz St John’s Sonics in the Co-operators General Insurance Premier League at the Barbados Community College.
It was the much-needed bounce back win after their stunning four-game winning streak got snapped in last week’s heartbreaker against Warriors. And they looked certain of doubling up on that setback, having trailed 60-55 with less than two minutes left following a pair of Akeem Marsh free throws.
But veteran guard Jason Smith came up huge, hitting a clutch triple before Hunte cut backdoor for an uncontested lay-up to give Station Hill an unlikely 61-60 lead.
Hunte wasn’t done just yet, though, replicating the play on the very next trip down as Cavs went up by three with a minute remaining.
Station Hill were lucky to dodge a pair of bullets, too, with Marsh and Deane Squires both missing wide open game-tying treys on back-to-back possessions. They still weren’t done giving Sonics lives, though, after also turning over the ensuing inbounds pass with a second left on the clock.
However, Squires didn’t have enough time to get off his attempt, which was still off the mark after the horn sounded.
It proved the rather wild finish to what was otherwise an extremely listless back and forth contest that featured more spills than thrills.
St John’s did threaten to blow open the contest thereafter, though, with Squires and Philip Harewood scoring off identical spin moves to close the half, before Stefan Clarke’s triple punctuated their 39-29 cushion.
Even when Station Hill tried to rally, Sonics answered with a couple key baskets. But Hunte drilled a trey to end the third quarter, while Saeed Norville did likewise to start the fourth, as buckets from Kevin Sealy and Jamai Puckerin quickly made the contest a one-possession game.
Smith finished with 13 points and Puckerin added 12 for Cavs while Marsh was the lone Sonics player in double digits with 12.
Earlier, Pearson Griffith had 19 points to lead Warrens to an 81-63 rout of Challengers in the demotion derby.
