Senators pip patriots

by JUSTIN MARVILLEONE ROUND INTO the draw and the men’s basketball knockout has already suffered its first Premier League casualty.Colombian Emeralds International Senators are just happy it wasn’t them.Alwyn Lovell scored 11 of his 20 points during a decisive third-quarter rally before Richard Bennett added a pair of crucial free throws down the stretch as Senators edged rival First Division club Patriots 85-82 in Sunday’s last-second finish at the YMCA.It was the highlight of a dreary first round that saw no close games and had an average margin of victory just shy of 28 points in the previous 11 contests, which featured three 30-point decisions, a 49-point margin and a whopping 56-point gap.And this contest threatened to join that dubious list when national forward George Haynes had 27 points through three quarters, opening the third by scoring or assisting on Patriots’ first five field goals to balloon a five-point half-time advantage (42-37) to a 15-point margin (52-37).But Anthony “Bill” White subsequently picked a needless unsportsmanlike foul and Lovell quickly took advantage despite missing the ensuing free throws.The multi-skilled swingman duly responded with five quick points while George Farrell attacked the rack with reckless abandon, before Lovell hit a pair of treys either side of the third quarter buzzer to put Senators ahead 64-61.However, Lovell was sidelined after getting hit in the face, resulting in Patriots scoring six straight through Stevenson Callender’s transition exploits to cut the deficit to one (72-71).Lovell’s absence was brief, though, and Bennett greeted his return with a huge triple that was part of a slight 11-7 surge, capped by Farrell’s two-handed dunk in the open floor inside the final minute.Patriots threatened thereafter as Callender hit a clutch three to reduce their five-point lead to a two-point deficit (83-81), but Conway missed two potential game-tying free throws before Bennett added a pair of his own with nine seconds remaining.The Husbands side still had a chance to force overtime. However, White hoisted up an ill-advised, contest three-pointer just one second after the inbounds pass, allowing Senators to dribble out the clock when the shot harmlessly hit the side-ring.Farrell finished with 18 points and Brian Yarde added 14, while Haynes ended with 28 points and White scored 20 for Patriots.