Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
A VALIANT effort by the Waterhouse Blazers saw them claw their way from a six-point deficit with 30 seconds remaining to defeat Majesty Gardens 76-75 and level their NPG Division One best-of-three series at one-all in Game Two on Saturday at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
Majesty Gardens, who narrowly got by Waterhouse 67-66 in Game One, seemed to have the Division One title all wrapped up and with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter held a 75-69 lead.
However, Waterhouse point guard Raymond Lade, who top- scored with 27 points and 13 rebounds, had other ideas.
He came up with a crucial steal, broke away into the open court and was fouled but still managed to score the basket. After Lade made the resulting free throw which saw the lead cut in half, Majesty Gardens once again coughed up the ball and once again it ended up in Lade's hands.
Cutting hard to the basket he was again fouled while making the basket. This time he missed the free throw that would have tied the game, but caught and put back his own rebound, giving his team a one-point lead and the victory which spelt heartbreak for the Majesty Gardens team and their numerous supporters on hand.
"This is so very disappointing, we had the game in the last 30 seconds," said a dejected Waterhouse vice-captain Kemar Dennis.
"A few of our players failed to follow instructions and that cost us the game, our turnovers were costly but we will go back to the drawing board for Tuesday's game," he added of the deciding Game Three.
Baldon Todd had 25 points eight rebounds, while Kemar McLiesh had 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a losing effort.
For Waterhouse coach Derris Easy, who was ejected from the game with 55 seconds remaining, the victory was a satisfying one.
"I am elated with the win although I think the majority of the calls went against us," he said.
"But in the end it was a good victory and we are very confident going into Game Three," added Easy, who saw his team surrender the lead late in the third quarter.
Waterhouse and Majesty Gardens will now play the decisive game tomorrow beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the National Stadium courts.
