Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Ardenne's Darren Roberts clutches the ball ahead of a tumbling Patrick Dillon of St. George's in game two of the ISSA KFC Under-16 final at St. George's on Friday. The hosts won the game 65-62 to level the best-of-three series at 1-1.- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

ST. GEORGE'S stayed alive when they fought their way to a 65-62 win over Ardenne to level the ISSA KFC Under-16 schoolboy basketball best-of-three final at St. George's on Friday.

The North Street boys had to work double time to eventually get the better of a confident Ardenne who were spurred on by their travelling cheerleading contingent.

The nail-biting encounter went down to the final play.

With the score at 63-62, George's big man Daniel Pitter, who had been on the bench for much of the second half with foul trouble, was put in for the final seconds.

Pitter was able to gather in a second missed free throw from Odane Cranston and, going with the follow-up effort, sealed a narrow victory for St. George's.

Big break

However, St. George's caught a break when Ardenne big man Alex Lubsey, a dominant force in the paint with 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks, fouled out just two minutes before that crucial play.

"That was a bad call. He did nothing at all and that cost us. Maybe we would have been able to win if it wasn't for that call," said Ardenne coach, Basil Barrett, who had seen his centre leap high to send a couple St. George's lay-up efforts flying out of bounds or clanking off the backboard. "It was an average performance. We could have played better and I know we can beat this team. Now, we just have to work hard for game three."

Led by sharp shooting guard Adam Fernandez, who had 18 points, and Dimitri Gage, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Ardenne, for the second game in a row, started the stronger of the finalists.

At the end of the first quarter, they held an 11-9 lead, but the home side drew inspiration from husky guard Patrick Dillon, who had 15 points in the encounter, and would not let the visitorsout of their sights.

Kemar Cummings, who was sent to the bench after a tough second quarter, also returned to put up an impressive showing in the final stanza in which he scored eight of his 15 points.

"We were really able to keep them at bay with our particular brand of defence in the fourth quarter and I think the guys really dug in for this victory," said George's coach Clifford Brown. "The series is tied now - there is one game left and we will be going for it. We are really looking to carry that trophy on our shoulders back to North Street," he said.

The third and decisive final will be held this Wednesday at the National Stadium courts.