Also at Langford, Sentinels recorded a victory over an improving U19 team.
FJ Carter Celtics 122, Volaw Storm 43: FJ Carter Celtics handed Storm, missing star player Duncan Prince, their worst ever defeat.
Celtics started strongly with the league’s most valuable player Chris Byrne scoring the first of a personal match tally of 38 points.
Mark Wilson and Nathan Wells kept Storm under constant pressure with numerous steals and fast breaks to end the first quarter with a comfortable 29-8 lead..
Celtics extended their lead to a massive 58-10 at half-time.
Storm’s captain Byron Hatton gave his men a serious team talk and they came out fighting in the third, Hatton leading the way with two three-pointers.
Baskets were traded evenly, with Celtics only extending their overall lead by four points.
However, Byrne, Wilson, Wells and Graff stepped up the pace in the final quarter and Celtics pulled well away.
Top scorers – FJ Carter Celtics 122: Chris Byrne 38, Mark Wilson 26, Nathan Wells 19, Paul Graff 12, Unnar Eliasson 10, Stuart Bruce 10, Ross Youngs 7.
Volaw Storm 43: Byron Hatton 11, Dominic Coyne 10, Derek Pereira 8, Kevin Birchall 6, Sam D’Avoine 2.
Sentinels 75, U19s29: The under-19s showed how much they have impoved over the last year with superb attacking play in the first half from Carlo Ranieri and Sam D’Avoine keeping them in touch with Sentinels.
Forward John Small made a welcome return and along with Ryan Driver, making his debut, added some much needed height to the Sentinels’ attack.
Sentinels opened a lead early in the second half that the juniors found hard to close helped by good fast break play and finishing from guard Michael Pusz.
Sentinels capitalised on the junior side’s lack of height and moved further ahead but not without suffering at the hands of the youngsters on occasion.
Joe Burleigh and Liam Barry gave some excellent passes and Derek Pereira made the most of some hard opportunities to sink some superb shots.
Tenacious play from the juniors showed that, with a the experience they are gaining in the men’s league, they will soon be a match for any team.
