Guildford Heat 104, Essex Pirates 88
DESPITE making a bright start, Pirates ended up well beaten in their first British Basketball League clash of the new year on Friday.
Pirates led 7-2 early on but Heat responded through Chad McKnight and Michael Martin to take their first lead of the match at 12-11.
Treys from Kenny Langhorne and Martin kept Guildford on top as they ended the quarter 26-24 in front.
After a 6-2 Pirates run had put them 30-28 up the rest of the second quarter belonged to Guildford. A McKnight three kick-started a 20-4 burst to take the score to 48-34.
Four straight points from Essex reduced the arrears before an 8-0 tear, with four from LA Drakeford, by Heat closed out the half 56-37 in the home team’s favour.
Heat stretched out to 71-48 in the third quarter before Pirates put together a 16-7 run to get within 14 (78-64).
The teams shared the final points of the period to head into the last ten minutes of action with Guildford 80-66 ahead.
Pirates continued to fight hard, but the closest they could get was 84-72 before Heat sealed the match with a 15-4 burst.
Pirates new boy Randy George was his side’s top scorer with 29 points while Taner Adu added 21 and Colin Sing 12.