by Carlena Knight
Fearless Crew 1 and Ottos Coolers are now one win away from advancing to the semi-finals of the Antigua and Barbuda Basketball Association (ABBA) Division Two playoffs.
Both teams in game one of their best of three series match-ups secured a win on Saturday night at Ovals.
Coolers was the first to go 1-0 up in their series versus Cuties Ovals Young Guns, defeating them 78-66 on their home court.
Javon Simon led the charge for the victors with 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
He was assisted by Lincoln Weekes who made 22 and grabbed nine rebounds.
Ismael Palemo contributed with 13 points and 15 rebounds off the bench, while teammate Michael Barton made 10 points, snatched 20 rebounds and recorded four block shots.
Young Guns’ Amare Browne had 21 points, six rebounds and six steals.
Jaylele Joseph had18 points and Judah Ferris 14 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort.
The feature encounter of the night between Fearless Crew 1 and New Generation Slam went down to the wire but it would be the west side team who would come out on top by three points, winning 64-61.
Adissa Harris led the victors with 23 points. His teammate Ralph Spooner was the other lone player in double digits with 17 points. Spooner topped that off with 12 rebounds and six steals.
Slam’s Anjis Anthony had 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while his teammates Kim Casey and Keaddy Martin had 13 and 12 points in a losing effort.
Both teams will match up again tonight at Ovals for game two.