Tigers winning streak ends at the hands of Crabs

Tigers’ unbeaten run in the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition has come to an end after seven games with a determined Crabs outfit getting their measure in a tense round 8 clash on Tuesday night.

After commencing the 2016-17 season in red-hot form, Tigers couldn’t haul Crabs back in the latter stages of the second half as they went down by three points.

Trailing by four points at half-time, Tigers got back on level terms and then edged one point ahead when skipper Tim Button was successful from the charity stripe.

Crabs rallied, with forward Wade Eskett pinching the advantage back, followed by a triple to Jayden Scott and another critical basket from new recruit Ain Pennaste as they opened up a six-point lead.

Button reduced the margin to five on the back of an Eskett technical foul and then a further free throw from Tigers guard John Santia, who had been kept quiet, made things interesting.

Santia was fouled again and hit both free throws to make it a two-point game but Crabs would hang on in a frantic couple of minutes as Scott hit one more shot from the free-throw line to help his side score an upset win, 33-30.

In a match riddled with fouls, Pennaste finished with nine points but it was their spread of scoring that was vital for Crabs as Eskett, Scott, Danial Abbott and Ash Jovanovic all added 6 points apiece in the win.

Button (7 points), Corey Hill (6) and Dean Gliosca (6) worked hard for Tigers while Santia was kept to just three second-half points.

Crabs have now won their past two matches as they head into the Christmas and New Year break just a game off the top four and face Raiders under-18 development squad when they return.

Barking Owls survived a major scare from Ambassadors to their sixth win of the season and head into the mid-season break on top of the standings.

Owls were led gallantly by Tom Powell who hit 19 points which included 15 in the first half while Carwin Garcia chipped in with 12.

Ambassadors trailed by six points at half-time and an inspired performance from forward Caleb Carmen gave their side a chance.

But Owls hung on, 46-45.

Wolves defeated Dugites in the other match, 49-41.