BVI Basketball Association Summer League

Run It Up Rally in Fourth Quarter to Eliminate DA 5TH

Run It Up saved their best basketball for the final eight minutes, outscoring DA 5TH 24-16 in the fourth quarter to secure a hard-fought 72-67 victory on Thursday night at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex and advance in the playoffs.

With both teams having suffered a double forfeit in Game 1 of the series, the matchup effectively became a winner-take-all Game 3. After splitting the next two contests, everything came down to Thursday night's decisive showdown, and Run It Up answered the call when it mattered most.

The game was tightly contested from start to finish. Run It Up held a slim 13-12 lead after the opening quarter and carried a 31-29 advantage into halftime. DA 5TH stayed within striking distance throughout the third period, trailing just 48-48 entering the final frame before Run It Up made the key plays down the stretch.

Ashield Frett led the way for Run It Up with a game-high 22 points, including three three-pointers, while Jamal Serrant delivered a monster all-around performance with 18 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots. Rushawn Johnson added 14 points, and Kymal Panchoo contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks as Run It Up controlled the paint in the closing minutes.

Run It Up also showcased their defensive presence, recording eight blocks and forcing key stops in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

DA 5TH received strong efforts from Dominic Ward, who finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Shem Samuel added 10 points and 13 boards. Crayvon Andrews, Dwayne Stoutt, and Kenrick Thomas each scored eight points in the losing effort, and Dione Blyden stuffed the stat sheet with five points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Despite outrebounding Run It Up 56-46 and recording 13 steals, DA 5TH could not overcome Run It Up's balanced attack and late-game execution.

With the 72-67 victory, Run It Up survived the dramatic series and punched their ticket to the next round, while DA 5TH saw their playoff run come to an end in a closely contested battle.