On Monday night, the Mailboat Cybots delivered a 106-92 statement to the Real Deal Shockers. The New Providence Basketball Association hosted game three of their semifinal series at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium. The series was knotted up at a game apiece and both teams knew how pivotal a game three win would be.
Eugene Bain was a multidimensional force against the Shockers, that now trail 2-1, collecting a game high 21 points, 19 rebounds and six assists. Mitchel Bain added 20 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Both teams were slow out of the gate, failing to convert on easy opportunities. Stagnant ball movement and bad shot selection crippled both teams offenses early in the quarter.
The Bots carried a one-point lead into the second, but would soon find their bearings after Bain came and sparked his team off the bench.
The Bots bench played a huge roll in the game; they outscored the Shockers second unit 68-22.
Midway through the second quarter the Shockers would begin to fall apart, which allowed the Cybots to take a 56-33 lead into halftime. During one wild stretch, Bain sank three consecutive three-pointers. The Cybots also tightened up their defense in building the 23-point lead.
A bright spot in the Shockers dreadful first half was the inspired play from their point guard, Floyd Armbrister, who finished the game with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. He pressured the ball handlers of the Cybots and constantly scored points off fast break opportunities. Salathiel Dean finished the game with 20 points but shot just 4-15 from the field. Bain and the rest of the Bots defense forced him into taking difficult shots all game. They double-teamed him on almost every possession, which prevented him from finding any kind of offensive consistency.
Both teams struggled from behind the three-point line in this game, shooting a combined 9-40, just 22 percent from long range.
In the third, there was cause for concern as Bots guard David Taylor went down hard after a flagrant foul by Dean. Taylor left the game but would later return.
In the midst of all the physical play the Shockers began to mount a comeback by making aggressive drives and getting to the foul line. The Shockers shot 45 free throws in the game compared to the Bots 31. In the fourth, they managed to cut the lead down to just ten, but time was not on their side. The bots managed to hold on for the win and the advantage in the series.
The other game played on Monday featured the Commonwealth Bank Giants against the PJCS Stingers. The Giants took a 2-1 lead in the series after trampling the Stingers 93- 71. Giant's wingman Mark Hanna led all scores in the game with 23 points, he also pulled down 12 rebounds. Gamaliel Rose added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win for the Giants.
Able Joseph finished with a Stingers' team high 14 points and nine rebounds.
Both series will continue tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. The games will be held at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.

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