The number 2 seed, Railway Tigers faced off against the number 4 seed Granville Wolfpack at the Mobay Cricket Club Multipurpose Court on Saturday afternoon as the Lucozade Sport Men's Basketball Championship best-of-three semi-final series got underway.

Both sides came into the match up quite upbeat despite their previous week's losses, but as the game pursued it was the Tigers who held on in this one, taking a 1-0 lead.

The first term saw both sides level on 12 points apiece a few minutes before the first break, until Tigers managed to score four additional points to lead 16-12. Their prowess continued into the second ripping Granville's defense to threads. Matters were worst as the Wolfpack's two leading scorers were nursing injuries and did not dress for the game; Tigers took the edge at halftime after a 25-9 second term to increase their lead 41-21.

In the third term the Wolfpack awoke from their slumber, seeming more energetic, but unfortunately for them they couldn’t put a dent into Tigers' already massive lead. Wolfpack trailed by 20 in the second and 24 in the third (62-38). In the final term, with the Tigers unit shooting 53% from the field, soon ran away with the game against a Wolfpack team who couldn’t get it going all evening.

For the victors, Michail Smith top scored with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Detroy Jewery added 12 points and four rebounds. For the Wolfpack only 3 players impacted the scoreboard, Phillip Morrison made 14 points, grabbed 9 rebounds. He received support from Dwayne Keane (12 points) and the veteran Hubert Grant (11 points).

Game 2 will be played on Sunday at the same venue at 7:00pm.


By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.