IF THIS LEAGUE RESULT is any indication, then Warriors probably shouldn’t turn up for the knockout final.
They were already no-shows on Tuesday night anyhow.
Smalta Pinelands’ super team sure made a powerful statement, going on a surreal 26-8 third-quarter run and thrashing Warriors 75-50 for their latest win in the Co-operators General Insurance Premier League at the Wildey Gym.
In a virtual preview of Saturday’s KO title game, the Pine weren’t too subtle in letting their intentions known after turning the second half into a 20-minute showcase of their combined talents.
At one point Pinelands appeared to be on the floor by themselves while rattling off uncontested baskets in transition against a Warriors team that clearly wanted no part of the action.
Were it not for the bickering coming from the opposing bench, and the presence of referees, one might have mistaken the fixture for a Pinelands practice session.
And this was after the league-leading Pine encountered their own problems scoring, with Nicholai Williams blocking MVP favourite Charles Vanderpool four times in the first quarter alone.
In all, Pinelands managed all of nine points in that period, and still couldn’t shake Warriors early in the ensuing second despite Junior Moore’s brief surge.
But Trevor Simmons got whistled for a senseless unsportsmanlike foul, leading to a 10-2 Pine finish to the half (30-22) capped by buckets from Vanderpool and Halley Franklyn.
The run didn’t end there though, far from actually, as Jeremy Gill and Daniel Lovell got in on the action after converting turnovers into fast-break buckets at the other end.
Even Lovell’s blown dunk attempt ended up scoring after bouncing off the back of the ring and hitting the backboard, while Gill took to posting up for a nifty up-fake and spin move.
That probably paled in comparison to his next move: a nifty double-clutch lay-up over two defenders in traffic. He wasn’t done there, having added a pull-up trey in transition for good measure to end the quarter.
By the time the melee was over, Warriors managed a mere eight points and found themselves on the wrong end of a 56-30 hammering.
Seon Hilliman and Kenny Matthews did try to make the margin a more respectable one, yet their side went down by as many as 30 (62-32) early in the fourth quarter.
Moore finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, Vanderpool had 11 and 11, while Lovell also scored 11 points for the Pine, who improved to a league-best 8-1 record.
Hilliman was the lone Warriors (4-5) player in double digits with 18 points.
In the nightcap, Urban Vybz St John’s Sonics had three players score 20 points or more in a 96-65 drubbing of lowly Warrens.
The result kept Sonics (5-4) in touch with Cougars for the fourth and final play-off spot after the Gall Hill side led the entire way despite trading buckets for most of the first quarter.
But Sonics scored 12 of the next 16 points to close out that period, including Akeem Marsh’s buzzer-beating baseline jumper, before blowing open the contest on a 21-11 run.
Marsh ended with 21 points and 13 rebounds while Shane Whittaker also scored 21 and Dwayne Kellman added 20 points and 17 boards.
Lance Posey led Warrens (2-7) with 21 points and 16 rebounds.