Olympians prevail as slow-starting Saints pay the price

The value of sustained effort in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Basketball Association’s men’s division 1 competition was not lost on Saints, whose poor start last week cost them victory against Olympians in an otherwise sound performance.

After Olympians controlled the first quarter, Saints hit back to win each of the next three but it proved too late in a six-point defeat, 93-87, as they slipped to fourth place.

It was tough lesson for Saints, who were blitzed 29-9 to quarter-time.

The red-and-blacks edged the second period, 25-23, and continued the revival with a 25-point third period that cut the deficit to nine points.

In a classic shoot-out, Saints won the final quarter, 28-25, but opposition star Jarrod Donaldson’s game-high 33-points proved to be match-defining.

Hamish Cummings and Jaydan Doel also had big games for Olympians, combining on 41 points that negated Manylok Malek’s 26 points and 25 from Michael Gardner in the Saints’ camp.

The teams are locked on two wins, but Olympians hold third spot by percentage.

In a tight competition, the balance of power further shifted on Friday night when Franchise handed CBC a first defeat, 78-50.

Franchise led by a point at half-time and they assumed control the rest of the way, 46-19.

The squad’s third win was orchestrated by Jerome Reid, whose game-high 35 points continued his run among the division’s most consistent scorer.

With 161 points, Reid trails only CBC’s Sam Morrow (167 points) as the division’s offensive leader.

Morrow contributed 15 points in a losing effort, but it was his second-lowest output of the season.

Miles Tierney led the way with 22 points for CBC, whose record includes back-to-back draws in rounds five and six.

Round 8 started on Monday night when Olympians battled Franchise.

The second leg will be played on Thursday night when Saints meet CBC.