Zachary Julien has been on fire for Spartans TT to start the week as action in the Lincoln “Cripple” Griffith North Zone Basketball League at the Woodbrook Youth Facility in Port-of-Spain continued.
On Sunday, the point guard scored a match-high 18 points to help Spartans upset reigning champion Maloney Pacers, 100-78, in the Men’s First Division, returning two days later to help his team open defence of its Boys’ Under-17 Division title with a 95-79 win over Basic Basketball Academy.
Against Pacers, Julien combined with Tristan Benjamin, formerly of Straker Nets, William Francis, and Dheron Evelyn to help Spartans TT past an undermanned Maloney Pacers. The quartet led an intense battle throughout against the reigning national champion, holding narrow leads in the first two quarters–19-17 in the first and 47-44 at the half.
On the resumption, Pacers, playing without star players Ahkeel “Smally” Boyd and Shakiel Bertrand, were hoping to make a comeback in the third quarter but were guilty of several turnovers which the Spartans unit capitalised on to build a bigger lead. Spartans went on to outscore Pacers, 26-20, to hold a nine-point (73-64) advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Pacers, which is also the reigning national champion, tried to stay within reach, but in the final session, it was all Spartans pulling away to win by 22 points. Tyrese Fields (19), along with Kanye George (14), Nkobie Ince (13), and Jelani Blackett (11), were the main scorers for the losing side.
On Tuesday, Julien notched 27 points and was well supported offensively by teammates Kevani Boatswain and Idriis Martin, who scored 20 points each to earn the Spartans club the 16-point victory over Basic Basketball Academy.
This was despite a match-high 34 points from Jairzhem McLean for the Academy. He had his team ahead 19-17 in the first period, but they trailed 42-40 at the half. Basic Basketball Academy dropped further behind in the third quarter, 75-62, before settling for the 95-79 defeat.
Results
Tuesday
U-17 Div: Basic Basketball Academy 79 (Jairzhem McLean 34, Aiden Noel 16, Amir Balgobin 15) vs Spartans TT 95 (Zachary Julien 27, Kevani Boatswain 20, Idriis Martin 20). Quarters: 1st 19-17 (Basic), 2nd 42-40 (Spartans), 3rd 75-62 (Spartans).
Second Div: Arouca Lions 56 (Adam Belford 14) vs Caledonia Clippers 71 (Aicil Jayvier 16, Akil La Roche 10, Sedley De Montrichard 10). Quarters: 1st 14-12, 2nd 38-27, 3rd 55-43 (All in favour of Clippers).
Sunday
First Div: Maloney Pacers 78 (Tyrese Fields 19, Kanye George 14, Nkobie Ince 13, Jelani Blackett 11) vs Spartans 100 (Zachary Julien 18, Triston Benjamin 15, William Francis 14, Dheron Evelyn 14). Quarters: 1st 19-17, 2nd 47-44, 3rd 73-64 (All in favour of Spartans).
Women’s Div: Spartans TT 41 (S Stephens 14) vs Royalty 65 (Allison Young 17, Eze Best 13, Jalia Best 11). Quarters: 1st 18-17, 2nd 34-24, 3rd 52-32 (All in favour of Royalty).
U-17 Div: Next Level Rookies 59 (Antonio Charles 18, Gihon Gibson 11, Malachi Riley 10) vs Royalty 62 (Kimani John 29, Jakem King 14). Quarters: 1st 19-16, 2nd 31-27, 3rd 42-36 (All in favour of Rookies).
Thursday
Second Div: UTT Patriots 84 (De-Leon Brown 28, Dario Lara 25, Jevaun Bailey 12, Uthman Bilal 12) vs Basic Basketball Academy 49 (Amir Balgobin 20, Jairzhem McLean 16). Quarters: 1st 22-13, 2nd 52-32, 3rd 84-49 (All in favour of UTT Patriots).
O-45 Div: Defence Force Vets 77 (Steven Lewis 28, Nate Toney 16, Wilt Vincent 11) vs Spartans TT Veterans 76 (Kevin Sunich 21, Dexter Bridgewater 15, Hector Sam 14, Joel Dennis 12). Quarters: 1st 16-13 (Def Force), 2nd 36-29 (Def Force), 3rd 52-49 (Spartans).
