Lions roar in Central Zone
Kevin Sunich (T&T Guardian)
Royal Extra Lions, who made its debut in the Central Zone Basketball Commission on Saturday, began its quest for the 2010 League title with a win over defending champions Longdenville Bullets at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas.
A game-high 33 points from captain Gerald Jobe could not prevent the title holders from suffering a 100-87 defeat at the hands of a star studded Royal extra team.
The team was able to acquire the services of national forward Kenyatta Alfred, who was part of the Detour Shak Attack team which won the 2009 north zone title, in addition to some players from the south zone. Lions were out of the blocks early and the end of the first period held a 22–10 lead.
The advantage was then stretched to 22 as the second quarter ended 46–24. Bullets came out firing in the third, outscoring the more experienced Lions 33–24, and in the process cutting the advantage to 13.
The fourth period was just as competitive but Bullets, despite scoring 30 points in the quarter, could not contain the Royal Extra team as it also scored 30, holding on for a 13-point win. Kurt Elliot led the winners with 19, while Alfred and Guyanese power forward Andrew Ifill had 16 and 13 respectively.
Bullets, which lost a few players to transfers, only had two other players in double digits, with Joel Morgan 13 and Anson Daniel 11.
