The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With the game and their season on the line, Keva Johnson powered inside for the winning basket to help the Bommer Gee Operators stave off elimination and force a fifth and deciding game.

Last night’s 90-88 victory over the Career Builders Cheetahs evened the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association’s best-of-five championship series at 2-2 with game five for all the marbles set for 8pm Thursday.

“Game on the line after they fell behind 2-0, the only way to win the championships is for us to win three straight, so I encouraged my teammates to fight to the end,” said Johnson as she joined in their celebrations at the DW Davis Gymnasium last night.

“I had to finish the shot. It feels so good to give us another life. We have another shot on Thursday night after tying up the series. This is going to be a dogfight.”

Johnson finished with seven points, but her basket with 1.9 seconds left on the clock fouled out Anastacia Moultrie. She missed the free throw on the three-point attempt, but grabbed the offensive rebound as the time expired.

Phylicia Kelly had a side high 25 points with six rebounds, Sheeldeen Joseph also had a big game with 22 points and Chrishanadra Rahming added 11 points in the win for the Lady Operators, coached by Donnie Culmer and Anthony Swaby.

As they prepare for the finale, Johnson said if they execute, crash the boards and contain the Lady Cheetahs’ star player, they have an opportunity to celebrate again, this time as the champions.

The star player she referred to was Leashja Grant. Despite picking up three fouls in the first quarter, the Lady Operators didn’t have an answer for her. Grant ended up with a game high 37 points and 15 rebounds.

However, she was quite disappointed that her team, coached by Deven Johnson and Varel Davis, wasn’t able to complete the series after taking the early 2-0 lead.

“I felt we started the game off very well, but we just didn’t end well,” she said. “They were able to capitalise on every mistake that we made.”

Going into the clincher on Thursday, Grant said they don’t have to change much.

“We just have to play defense. We are plying very well offensively, but we just have to capitalize of their mistakes. I feel we can win it. We just have to come with the right mentality.”

The Lady Cheetahs controlled the tempo of the game from the first quarter as they opened a 14-6 lead, thanks to Grant’s three-point play and they surged ahead 24-14 at the first break.

The Lady Operators were able to curt the deficit to 29-28 with 3:46 on the clock as Kelly had a three-point play and Gabbie McKinnely came up with a steal and as lay-up.

The game was close up to the half time as the Lady Cheetahs got a lay-up from Shelly-Ann Austin to hold onto a 42-40 advantage.

Neither team was able to open more than a four-point lead in the second half as players started to get into foul trouble. But when it counted the most, the Lady Operators were able to seal the deal and snatch their second straight win to tie the series.