ACRO4U Digenis Akritas Morphou celebrated its first victory in this year’s ECOMMBX Basket League, defeating Anorthosis Famagusta 76–74, in the game held on Sunday (10/25) in Lefkotheo, for the third round of the league.
Hadi Elhajj’s team secured the victory thanks to a three-pointer by Trey Burraston eight seconds before the end, in a game that came down to the final possessions. Anorthosis had taken the lead a little earlier, but Digenis found the answer and secured its first win of the season, leaving the Famagusta-based team winless after three games.
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The top scorers for the winners were Xavier Hall and Zachery Hudson with 16 points each, while Trey Burraston added 15 points on five three-pointers. Hall also dished out 14 assists. For Anorthosis, Matthew Charles led the scoring with 20 points, while Charles Henderson and Paris Marangos each scored 11.
The game began with Anorthosis getting off to a better start and taking a 12-5 lead. Digenis fought back, and with three-pointers from Hudson and Hall, narrowed the gap before taking a 15-12 lead. The two teams remained neck and neck, with Anorthosis tying the score at 17-17. The home team found offensive solutions in the final minutes and ended the first quarter ahead 24-20.
In the second quarter, Digenis maintained its lead and, with three-pointers from Burraston, Jackson, and El Bejjani, built a seven-point lead (40-33). Anorthosis, however, fought back in the final minutes of the first half. With points from Henderson and a three-pointer by Andreas Cheimonas, they closed the gap to 40-38, before Cheimonas tied the score at 40-40 with a basket six seconds before halftime.
The third quarter began with Anorthosis taking a 45-43 lead, but Digenis responded with a three-pointer by Hudson and regained the lead. The home team extended their lead to eight points (60-52), thanks to key offensive plays by Jackson, Burraston, and Hall.
The Famagusta team didn’t give up and narrowed the gap with three-pointers from Boykin and Marangou. Digenis finished the third quarter ahead 63-62, leaving everything up for grabs heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the two teams continued to trade baskets. Anorthosis took a 66-65 lead, but Jackson responded with a three-pointer to make it 68-66. This was followed by four consecutive points from Henderson and Federiko, putting the visitors ahead 70-68.
Digenis fought back, and a three-pointer by Victor Ieronimidis regained the lead (72-71) with about two and a half minutes remaining. Hall added a free throw to make it 73-71, but Anorthosis had an answer.
With a three-pointer by Charles, 20 seconds before the end, the visitors took the lead 74-73 and were close to their first victory.
The final say, however, belonged to Digenis. Trey Burraston sank a three-pointer, following an assist from Xavier Hall, with eight seconds left, making it 76-74. On Anorthosis’s final possession, Giorgos Tretyakov missed a three-pointer, and the home team celebrated the victory.
Quarter scores: 24-20, 40-40, 63-62, 76-74
ACRO4U Digenis Akritas Morphou (Hadi Elhajj): Jackson 11 (3), Burraston 15 (5), Vassiliou 2, Hall 16 (2), El Bejjani 13 (3), Hudson 16 (3), Georgiou, Kruse, Ieronymidis 3 (1).
Anorthosis Famagusta (Stylianos Gregoriou): Boykin 9 (2), Charles 20 (4), Cheimonas 10 (2), Henderson 11 (1), Federiko 9, Tretyakov 4, Tombazos, Filippou, Marangos 11 (2), Garcia.
