As with last weekend’s defeat to Leicester Riders, the Scorchers matched a title-challenging side for long periods but found the Q1 deficit too much to make up.
Lions raced into an early lead and were 16-7 up within five minutes but two big three-pointers from Tayo Ogedengbe kept the Scorchers within touching distance. Still, though, the Lions were ten points up after Q1 and that soon became 12.
Yet birthday boy Quincy Taylor brought it back to five from the free throw line and, aided by some superb defending, Joe Mvuezolo made it a 2-point game with less than two minutes remaining in the half. A foul on Taylor invited Scorchers to level the game at 45-apiece but in the blink of an eye, Lions again opened up a seven-point lead.
Lions quickly out themselves in foul trouble at the start of Q3, allowing Taylor to take his personal tally to 21 points and the Scorchers to back within 3. Once more, though, Lions responded in impressive fashion. Taylor went coast-to-coast with the final play of Q3 but still Lions led by 11 with ten minutes remaining.
Caylin Raftopolous landed two big three-pointers early in Q4 and Scorchers were suddenly back within five, but each time the hosts threatened to restore parity, Lions again reinforced their advantage. Scorchers kept plugging away until the closing seconds but, after two consecutive defeats, Lions were in no mood to relinquish this one.
Points: Taylor 25, Ogedengbe 13, Williams 10
Rebounds: Atwood 8, Ogedengbe 5, Wellian 4
Assists: Tayo 7, Raftopolous 4, Ogedengbe 3
© Copyright 2024 Surrey Scorchers
