Knights hit back

URBAN Knights put on a superb performance on Saturday night to restrain defending champions Tivoli All Stars in game two of the Berger Paints division one basketball finals.

The Knights edged Tivoli 67-64 in a highly exciting encounter to level the series 1-1 after the current title-holders won the first 85-69.

Urban Knights took an imposing 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Tivoli dug into their reserves for a come-back, producing 24 points to their opponents' 12. David Martin ignited Tivoli with successive three-point shots.

Tivoli pulled level at 33-33 with two minutes left on the clock and took the lead a short while later for score of 40-34 at half time.

Martin remained on target and with invaluable contribution from Richard Andrews sent Tivoli 10 points clear (46-36).

Urban Knights were down, but certainly not out as Mugabe Thomas, Duken Brown and Martin Miller formed an alliance which enabled their team to equalise at 46-46.

The score at the end of the third quarter was 50-47 in favour of Urban Knights.

A ding-dong battle ensued in the final quarter as Tivoli fought to retain their title and Urban Knights trying to keep their hopes alive.

Both teams were level at 60-60 then Urban Knights steadied their play and hung on for the three-point win.

Tivoli's head coach Dennis Hutchinson slammed the officials after the game.

"I don't want to keep complaining but truth is truth. The officiating was geared towards one team and it wasn't us," Hutchinson said in a post-game interview. He aaded, however, that Tivoli needed to improve their defence for Wednesday's decider.

"We need to turn up the volume on our defence. We're having a problem scoring and once we correct that, then we'll be alright," Hutchinson added.

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