Station Hill are in the money again, even without their resident Business Man.
Just one play-off berth remains now, as Jamai Puckerin had a game-high 20 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Cavs back to the postseason following Sunday’s gritty 70-65 win over Warriors in the Co-operators General Insurance Basketball Premier League at the Wildey Gym.
It was the fifth victory in six games for the playoff-bound Cavs, who were without the recently returned Kelvin “Business Man” Patterson, and yet still managed to book a place alongside defending champs Lumber Company LSC and Smalta Pinelands.
If only the play-off picture looked as rosy for a Warriors side that now must win their final three fixtures and hope both Cougars and Urban Vybz St John’s also drop games as well.
They nearly improved those already slim hopes though, having fought back from a menacing eight-point fourth-quarter hole (61-53) to make the contest a one-possession game (63-60) inside the final minutes.
With Station Hill threatening to blow the game wide open, Seon Hilliman had a big “and-one” basket, before Nicholai Williams followed up with four straight points on a reverse layup and bank shot.
But that proved the extent of the run, as Saeed Norville put an end to the rally with back-to-back baskets, including a breakaway slam that put Cavs ahead 67-60.
Warriors only further sealed their doom when Williams missed a pair of free throws thereafter, and then watched Jason Smith knock down a backbreaking triple on the next trip (70-60).
Williams and Hilliman scored successive buckets to pull Warriors within five, but they never got any closer with time winding down, allowing Cavs to inevitably dribble out the clock.
It was the perfect payback for a Station Hill side that had lost a pair of one-point thrillers in the most heart-breaking of fashions this season.
And this third match-up seemed headed for yet another gripping finish after nothing could separate the two defensive-minded squads for the game’s first 15 minutes.
However, Randy Simmons hit a timely trey to spark a furious 18-6 Warriors finish to the half that featured seven straight points from Hilliman and was then capped by Williams’ “and-one” tip-in (38-30).
Warriors managed just ten points for the entire third quarter – all while Puckerin imposed his will in the paint at the other end to fuel Station Hill’s subsequent comeback.
Cavs then threatened to blow the lid right off after Trevor Simmons fouled on a silly technical foul that came as part of a run of eight unanswered Station Hill points (58-50).
Smith and Norville both finished with 12 points for the Cavs, who improved to an 11-4 record ahead of their season-finale against the Pine (11-1).
Hilliman led Warriors (5-7) with 18 points and ten boards, Williams added 17 and 15, while Daniel Durant also had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Earlier, Greig Springer had a game-high 28 points as Warrens put themselves one win away from avoiding demotion after beating Combined Schools Tridents 88-78.
Brandon Hope added 14 points, Dario Cumberbatch scored 12, while Lance Posey chipped in with 11 points and 16 boards for Warrens (4-10).
Joel Hunte led the schoolboys (1-12) with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Kelan Phillips and Amal Smith scored 14 and 11 points, respectively.