Star pip UUJ in thrilling finale
Where does one start? Saturday nights thrilling climax had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats right to the death. After an excellent start, when it looked like Star were going to steam roll the opposition and were leading 30 - 15 at the end of the first quarter, UUJ came looking for their first win of the season. Truth be told, UUJ didn't deserve to lose. However, the Star coaching staff can be pleased with not only another win, but the fact that it is quite a few years since a Star superleague team could afford to play poorly and win. And that's exactly what they did. UUJ controlled the tempo of the game from the 2nd quarter through to the last but missed crucial foul shots down the stretch to their cost. Still, it took a spectacular buzzer beater from 'The Boston Strangler' Bobby Kelly - a forty footer off one leg with two guys hanging on him - which found nothing but net to bring the game into overtime. The result was never really in doubt in overtime as it would have taken a really special effort for a deflated UUJ team to pick themselves up after such a cruel blow. Adrian Gross finished with 33 and former Star players Scottie Summersgill and Gareth Maguire both had good games. For Star, although he didn't shoot the ball as well as normal, Bobby Kelly finished with 34 and was huge down the stretch. Once again he did a superb defensive job on Bryan Nieman although Nieman did put in an improved performance from Game 1. (Watch the ring on those reverse flushes BK!). Nick Michaels again worked tirelessly on the boards and hit some crucial jumpers in the fourth quarter including a triple to tie the game up in the last couple of minutes. Dawsy finished with 20.
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