By Martin Mork
Kingston first – 49
UCL first – 57
A great game from Kingston’s playmaker Mantas Partikas could not save Kingston from losing ground to league leaders UCL in an entertaining basketball game at Kingston College last night.
The Kingston Cougars started off very confidently and a solid performance had them leading 15-6 after the first quarter. Led by Alexander Polis, the team went on to control the first half, running UCL ragged.
Kingston maintained their lead and were ahead by five points halfway into the second quarter. However, despite looking solid, towards the end of second quarter they let UCL back into the game. The scoreboard showed Kingston marginally in the lead at half time with just a point separating the teams.
Kingston maintained their lead until the fifth minute of the third quarter, when UCL equalised to make it 33-33. UCL had a desperate struggle to get ahead of a determined Kingston, but finally got the upper hand in the closing minutes of the third quarter. They finished the quarter 37-35.
This seemed to knock the Cougars’ confidence and allowed UCL to take control of the game. A great fourth quarter from UCL captain Maxwell Dowland spearheaded the visitors to an eight-point victory.
“We started strong,” said KU captain Polis whose side bossed the floor in the opening exchanges.
“We controlled the game at first, but their experience as a team overcame us towards the end.”
The result pushed the visitors further clear at the top of the league and UCL captain Dowland was well satisfied.
“We were very nervous in the first half. It is the biggest game in our league,” he said. He agreed that Kingston were on top for the majority of the first half.
“We are top of the league after beating Kingston,” said Dowland. “We’re looking forward to playing in the Premier South next year.”