The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHAT they lacked in size, the short-handed Pyramid Food Rockets tried to make up with speed as they took the Mail Boat Cybots to the limit in game one of their New Providence Basketball Association playoffs.

When it was all said and done, the Cybots managed to escape with an 83-77 triumph as the Vince Ferguson pennant winners took the initial lead on Monday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

The second place Real Deal Shockers played the third place Patron Regulators in the feature contest, but no score was available at press time.

The Cybots, hoping to get back to the final in their quest to regain the title that they held two years ago, had the height advantage and that made the difference as they held off the Rockets, who played without their top scorer David ‘Skittles’ Taylor. For most of the first quarter, the two teams traded baskets with the Rockets holding onto a slim 17-16 margin. However, at the half, the Cybots was able to bounce back to take a 38-29 advantage.

The Cybots would open a 57-53 lead at the end of the third, but in the fourth, the Rockets made a couple runs to turn the contest into a battle right down the wire.

After the Mail Boat pushed their lead to 70-60, with three minutes and 50 seconds left, on a basket from Cordero Seymour, the Pyramid Food made another run to come within four on consecutive three-pointers from Demetri Mackey and Corey Williams.

But the flashy point guard Lerecus Armbrister got loose on a fast break and scored a lay-up that preserved their lead, 82-76, as the Cybots held on for the win.

“We were right in the game, but we were a little short with a couple of our key players out and that is what killed us,” Corey Williams said. “We didn’t have any help on the boards.”

Game two of the series will be played on Friday night and Williams said they will have to play just as hard as they did in game one and tighten up on their defence.

“We have to box out because we are very small,” he added. “I still applaud the guys because even though we were short handed, we gave it our all. Hopefully we can come out with a victory in game two.”

Armbrister, who ran the floor very well, led the Cybots with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Ajmad Bootle had 15 points and Eugene Bain had 14 points and nine rebounds. Seymour helped out with nine before he fouled out; Ernest Saunders had eight; Jeremy Hutchinson seven with 11 rebounds and Delano Knowles had six points and seven rebounds.

For the Rockets, Williams finished with a game high 23 points; Barry Carter had 20 points and seven rebounds before he fouled out; Teameko Moxey had 15 points and seven rebounds; Demetri Mackey had eight points and Prince Brennen chipped in with seven.

On Wednesday, the John Archer Division will get started with the defending champions and pennant winning Commonwealth Bank Giants playing the fourth place Double R Services Limited Cleaners in the 7:30 pm opener. The second place PJ Stingers will face the third place Y-Care Wreckers in the feature contest.