THEIR NAME suggests otherwise, but the night wasn’t so royal for Carrington Village’s best.
Moments after surrendering the Division 3 knockout final, Lawn Tech Services Royals didn’t fare much better in the Intermediate equivalent, with their fourth quarter rally falling just short in Saturday’s gut-wrenching 68-64 loss to Roll-A-Way St John’s Sonics at the YMCA.
The win confirmed Sonics’ status as early pre-season title favourites after St John’s built a menacing double digit advantage (55-45) in the third behind former Premier League players Rommel Garnes, Jeff Trotman and Bernard Howell.
Royals refused to go away quietly though, rallying behind Todd Bourne’s six-point fourth-quarter flurry to make the contest a one-possession game at one point.
But Damien Waithe hit a clutch triple following Howell’s game-saving baskets as Royals never got any closer than two points the rest of the way.
Garnes had a game-high 19 points, Trotman finished with 16 while Howell and Waithe chipped in with 13 apiece. For Royals, Bourne and Jason Reeves each had 16 points and Ryan Weekes added 11.
Earlier, former Premier League starter Derek Browne had a game-high 21 points and helped spur a decisive 21-7 second-quarter run to lead Lumber Company Lakers to a 68-46 blowout of Royals in the Third Division final.
It was the second successive title in as many tournaments for Browne, who most recently led the Husbands-based side to the top flight league crown last October.
Brian Armstrong added ten points in the win as Lakers blew open a 19-12 contest by holding their opponents to just seven second-quarter points.
Royals only got within 15 (50-35) the rest of the way before Lakers were at it again, outscoring the Carrington Village squad 18-11 to close out the contest. (JM)
