ANOTHER OF THOSE Lakers-Cavs finals?
Nope, not just yet. Maybe not at all.
Akeem Marsh had nine points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead trey with 36 seconds left as Roll-A-Way St John’s Sonics forced a deciding Game 3 in their Premier League basketball play-off series with champs Lumber Company Lakers following Saturday’s 66-64 thriller at the Wildey Gym.
The late-game heroics proved the epic finish to a classic Sonics comeback that saw the underdog St John side rally from down by as many as 11 points (53-42) when they looked all but dead and buried late in the third quarter.
It was also the cap to a stirring game-high 21-point performance from Marsh, who bounced back from a woeful seven-point Game 1 effort against a Lakers squad looking to advance to a likely fourth title series against Cavs.
And the champs looked certain of their sixth finals appearance in seven years while turning a 38-32 half-time cushion into an 11-point advantage on the back of Andre Lockhart’s jumpers and some unlikely scoring from Ormond Haynes.
But Lockhart quickly picked up his fourth foul, and Sonics scored six unanswered points – all without Marsh and fellow star forward George Haynes on the court – to close the period before Marsh and Stefan Clarke pulled Sonics within two (62-60) on a 7-0 run.
Lakers still managed to keep that lead inside the final minute, and seemed on course for the series-clinching win when Ricardo Jemmott blocked Dwayne Kellman’s potential game-tying lay-up with 38 seconds remaining.
However, Marsh went for the outright lead just seconds later, drilling the baseline triple on the ensuing inbound pass before increasing Sonics’ lead (65-62) on the next possession with a pair of free throws.
The champs weren’t done yet, though, with Lockhart scoring a quick lay-up prior to Marsh splitting free throws at the other end, giving them 3.8 seconds for a potential game-winner.
But Adrian Allman’s subsequent trey fell just short at the buzzer after Lockhart was forced to go the length of the floor before finding his backcourt mate wide open on the right wing.
Later, Peter Alleyne had a historic triple double, including scoring 12 points of a decisive 32-6 third-quarter rally as Warrens fought back from an 11-point half-time deficit for a series-tying 77-59 win over Mpact Station Hill Cavaliers.
Alleyne finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, hitting four triples to spark the huge run and make up for the loss of injured centre Pearson Griffith.
The series concludes with Game 3 on Thursday, while Lakers and Sonics finish up tomorrow night at the same venue.
Earlier, Toni Atherley had a game-high 38 points as defending women’s champs Clapham Bulls completed their first ever regular season series sweep of Mpact Station Hill Cavaliers with an 81-56 rout.