The Hitters got off to a poor start, but managed rally back into the game, winning 72-69.

Indeed this was an exciting game with star junior player Tyron Hutchinson scoring 19 points, grabbing three rebounds, and speeding away with five steals for Hitters.

Also for Hitters, Marlon Powell had 17 points, three rebounds and assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Shawn Forbes has 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Ghetto Roots was led by Carlos Monzac, who has 16 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. He was assisted by Troy Wattley who had 15 points, 15 rebounds, and Keithly Hicks who had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Hitters’ coach James Hanley said even though it is only the first game in a five-game series, the win was one of the most gratifying in his coach career.

“Nobody gave us a chance,” Hanley said, “I feel really good see, because we were not suppose to win any games at all.”

James pointed out that Ghetto Roots pulled out all the stops and brought in players who had not played for the team in ages and players who were injured, including a player who is supposedly to have surgery.

“But we still won the game, and won with the same players who have always played for Hitters,” Hanley said.

One of Ghetto Roots captains, Bertram Charles, said he expects Ghetto Roots to win the next game. He pointed out that Ghetto Roots can play much better than they did on that Sunday.

“Well frustration near the end of the game is really what did us in,” Charles said. “We played hard, but we had too many turnovers, we did not make our free throws and we did not rebound the ball well.”

Charles said Ghetto Roots during the week will work on those faults.

“We plan to work hard to make sure we don’t make those same mistakes. Also, if we play together as a team – a unit, then we should be alright,” Charles said.

The other sem-finals matchup in the playoffs of the LIME Premier Division resulted with the Cotton Ground Rebels defeating the St. Paul’s Tuff Knotts 77-58.

Cotton Ground was led by Jennerson France with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, Everson Webbe had 23 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals and Royden Browne had 10 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and three blocked shots.

For St. Paul’s Clayton Powell had 23 points, two rebounds and four steals. Kingsley Francis had 12 points, two rebounds and Robert Patrick had seven points, two rebounds and three steals