If nothing else these Warriors know how to make a game interesting.
Kareem Farrell had a game-high 15 points and First Works Warriors led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter before surviving a late 31-14 rally to edge winless Patriots 80-76 in Thursday’s Premier League basketball action at the YMCA.
It was the second time in three games that the Dayrells Road side threatened to blow a 20-point lead, following last week’s similar 70-66 thriller over Senators.
In all, Warriors have had three of their four games decided by five points or fewer, with the lone double-digit margin coming in an 80-70 win against Cougars.
But Patriots seemed to be breaking that trend after falling behind 68-48 early in the fourth following Warriors’ complete domination of the paint.
This after Warriors scored ten of the game’s first 13 points on the way to a quick 21-10 first-quarter lead, and extended that advantage to nearly 20 (44-26) by the half, courtesy of a 23-16 second-quarter surge.
Patriots took their turn controlling the interior, scoring a combined 31 points in the paint and at the line over the final 7:14 to get as close as three points (79-76).
Forward Anthony “Bill” White started the rally with an offensive rebound and three straight free throws, before Damien Gaskin added a tough layup followed by seven points from swingman André Stoute to pull Patriots within 11 (73-61).
That run ended as Stoute missed a pair of technical free throws, allowing Warriors to hold a significant cushion when André Pierre answered with a layup at the other end.
But Patriots continued to crash the offensive glass, with White scoring off a key put-back, before Gaskin returned to hit a pair of free throws and a short jumper to reduce the deficit to 77-70 with a minute remaining.
And the Husbands lads weren’t finished yet either, converting three successive Warriors turnovers into two layups and another White put-back, trimming their opponents’ lead to three (79-76).
Tremaine Shaw finished with 14 points and former MVP Corey McDonald chipped in with 13 for Warriors, who improved to a second-best record of 3-1.
White led Patriots (0-2) with game-highs of 18 points and 15 rebounds, Justin Gaskin scored 14 while Gaskin and Omari Corbin had 11 points apiece.
The night’s second game between Lumber Company Lakers (1-1) and Pinelands (2-0) was rained out with Lakers leading 22-21 early in the second quarter.
