 |
BBL Stone drops 35 but Towers take OT win
Derby Storm's Kip Stone made the final three of his game-high 35 points on a four point play in overtime at Crystal Palace but he couldn't convert the attempt from the foul line to level the match, allowing London Towers to close off a dramatic 99-97 victory.
The Storm guard had excelled as his team burst ahead in the opening stages, taking a comfortable lead in the second quarter before their hosts woke up and applied some pressure in return.
Ron Abegglen's capital outfit needed a spark from Danny Lewis to close to 46-49 at half-time but they could not take off the visitors, who looked set to take a road win. However in the dying seconds of the fourth period, Towers edged ahead and Martin Ford's men needed another vital score from Stone, who hit 8/10 from outside the arc, to send the match into an extra period at 87-87.
After the re-start, a three from Lewis put the Towers in front and although Derby took a brief 90-92 lead, the Londoners hit a 6-0 run which gave them the momentum to scrape home for the win.
"We're not happy unless we go to overtime," admitted a relieved Abegglen afterward. "Derby unsettled us early and we were talking trash in the locker room bout holding them under 60 points. However it was our offense which pulled us through."
Lewis finished on 34 to lead the victors.
Copyright Britball. Download is subject to Britball's Terms of Service.