College Basketball: Wentworth 17-16 James

Photo: Kathy Burke
Wentworth beat James as part of the spring term college basketball programme by the finest of margins.

It was a fitting advertisement for college rugby, whose popularity has soared recently, with almost all the colleges now having teams at their disposal.

Helge Remmers scored a magnificent three-pointer towards the end of the match to secure victory for Wentworth who had been trailing for almost the entire match.

They did, however, score the first points as the elusive and dynamic Matteo Pazzona made a darting run through James’ defence to produce a simpe lay-up finish.

But James took control soon after thanks to Nolan who produced an impressive finish just inside the three-point line, before James Prescott layed-up.

Another Prescott run then resulted in James Thomas finishing from close range to make it 6-2.

Pazzona scored a second for Wentworth before Remmers got his first to make it 6-6. James took the lead once more after George Hridstov displayed power and pace to intercept, run downcourt and finish.

Andy Flatley scored twice for James to build momentum for his team, the first a lay-up, the second the result of another excellent counter-attack. The half-time score read 12-8 to James.

But perhaps half-time came at the wrong time for James who were looking to be in the ascendancy over a tiring Wentworth.

Remmers began the post-graduate fightback early in the second period to make it 12-10, but Flatley scored at the second attempt to restore the four-point cushion.

James were playing some great team basketball, with a move involving Flatley, Prescott and Thomas resulting in the latter finishing to make it 16-10.

But Wentworth were not finished and called upon their extra experience to turn matters around in the dying minutes.

Remmers scored out of nothing to make it 16-12 and Pazzona produced a composed shot in a crowded situation to make it 16-14.

Remmers then came up with the goods with a stunning three-pointer, all the more impressive since it came at a crucial time of the match, to sink James who had barely any time left to launch their next attack.

Vision MOTM: Helge Remmers