by Bernard Wagner
Pepsi NEBL In The Paint
Who’s your daddy? If the playoffs ended today, the San Pedro Tiger sharks would play the Dangriga Dream Ballers in the semi-finals. There are very few teams in the 2017 version of the NEBL that consistently gives the Tiger sharks trouble, the Dangriga Dream Ballers are one of those teams. Since last year, the Dream Ballers have won three of four played between the two clubs, sweeping this year’s two game series in impressive fashion, but more importantly, have established that they are more than capable of winning on the road, having won the last two meetings played on the island of San Pedro.
This was the case on Saturday night as the Ballers entered 4th quarter play staring up at a seemingly insurmountable 67-56 deficit, in one of the league’s toughest arena to play, particularly when trailing. But the Dream Ballers for some unknown reason seems comfortable playing in front of the San Pedro’s faithful. Rather than playing from a position of weakness, they instead seemed to embrace that challenge and play from a position of strength. That strength on Saturday was defensive intensification which when employed made the Tiger sharks seem disorganized and erratic, committing 8 fourth quarter turnovers, while being held to just 16% shooting on 2 of 12 from the field, and a substandard 1 of 8 from the charity strips. Four Dangriga players had at least one steal in the fourth, with Dillmore Conorquie leading the way with three, while Kevon Laurie and Akeem Trapp had two each. Tahj Wells chipped in on the front court with two blocks, and as a team the Ballers crashed the offensive glass, out-hustling their opponents, by grabbing six of their game thirteen offensive rebounds in that decisive fourth quarter. The results, Dream Ballers outscoring the Tiger sharks 23-6 in the fourth on their way to the 79-73 win.
Ballers Dillmore Conorquie had a game high 24 points on 8 of 20 shooting from the field to go along with 5 rebounds and 9 steals. He had adequate support from his big-man Tahj Wells, who secured another double-double with 14 points 14 rebounds and 2 block shots in 35 minutes of play. Quinton Bowen who had been mired in a slump, bounced back at a most opportune time totaling 14 points 2 rebounds 2 assists.
On the other side of the coin, George Williams was the high-man for the Sharks totaling 22 points 8 rebounds 3 assists, but turned the ball over 6 times. Douglas Valley chipped-in with 12 points and Jamal Kelly had 11 points.
As a team the Sharks converted a higher percentage of their shots (41%) compared to the Ballers (40%), and surprisingly out-rebounded them 53-44. They also dominated in the paint 44-34, and had respectable contributions off the bench. Unfortunately though they loss the second chance opportunities battle (12-4), as well as the points off turnover 31-22 which ultimately decided the outcome of the game.
More significant for the Tiger sharks though as they set their eyes on post-season play, and the looming possibility of a first round match-up against these same Ballers, is the fact, that in the two games played against the Dream ballers this year, both losses, disturbingly, they have been outscored 37-15 in the fourth quarter.