The City Oilers defeated Sommet 79-63 in game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the series but one thing stood out in this game. The dominant fourth quarter Oilers performance. Or, the disastrous Sommet meltdown.
It is very difficult to tell if City Oilers were just too good or that Sommet were horrible but one thing for sure is, Sommet never showed up in the fourth quarter.
They scored just 2 baskets and just 4 points but made 10 turnovers, most of which were travel violations and the Oilers managed to score 12 points from turnovers in that time.
One of the most frustrating turnovers for Sommet was the unforced one that Tembo made while the Oilers had gathered some steam.
After Sommet had managed to hold off the Oilers, the ball was going out of bounds but Tembo decided to hold it and he went of bounds with it.
Shortly after, he made a foul and after that, Ben Komakech drained a corner 3 to make it an 8-point game.
That was just one of the incidents that show how things went wrong for Sommet in the fourth quarter.
Teko made 3 travel violations at crucial times. Tembo made multiple errors. Ssendawula didn’t show up. Nyembo appeared to walk off with an injury. Basically, everything was not in Sommet’s favor.
It is difficult to comprehend that a team which scored 15 points in the first 4 minutes scored just 4 in almost the final 12 minutes.
But then again, we do not judge teams but how they start but rather how they finish.
Coming into this game, City Oilers had won game 2 to level the series and their intentions were very clear, to take the lead.
However, it was not the start they wanted.
Sommet started the game 15-1 in the first 4 minutes of the game and everything seemed to be working in their favor.
As the game progressed, the Oilers started making some shots and by the end of the quarter, it was 22-20, Sommet with the lead.
Sommet led 42-38 at half time and it the third quarter, they scored 1 more point than Oilers to make it 59-54, a 5-point lead.
What happened in the fourth quarter, only Sommet know but it that was a game they do not want to remember.
Player Stats
City oilers
Chad Bowie 19 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl
Kurt Curry 19 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
Mer Maker 14 pts, 11 reb, 3 blk, 2 stl
Ben Komakech 10 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl
Sommet
Nyembo Franck Fataki 19 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast
Peter Cheng 11 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast
Kasereka Tembo 16 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast
Sommet’s 4 points in the fourth quarter is the lowest we have seen from a team this playoffs.
The City Oilers lead the series 2-1 . They will have a chance to close the series on Tuesday 23rd when the teams face off for game 4.
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