Wesolowski’s buzzer beater turns the tide for Royals
A buzzer beater from captain Dan Wesolowski turned the tide in Maidenhead Royals' favour as they overcame Kennet Kingfishers to book their place in the quarter finals of the Karl Taylor Plate Cup.
The Royals were trailing to their Division 2 opponents after the Kingfishers fought back to take the lead in the early stages of the third quarter.
But the Royals stole back the initiative with Wesolowski's three-point and shut out the Kingfishers with some impressive zone defence, led by Gaye Gangeda, Ian Lawrence and Dedan McLaughlin, to run out comfortable 58-35 winners.
In the final quarter they took control both defensively and offensively, scoring 24 points to four.
The Royals began well and quickly established a sixpoint lead, however, momentum swung both ways in a frustrating second period which presented the Kingfishers with the chance to close the gap and then move ahead at the start of the third quarter.
Gangeda, Lawrence and McLaughlin dragged the Royals back onto an even keel with a series of steals and turnovers to set the home side off on quick counter attacks and, with Seppe Leyson leading the line with 11 points they pulled clear for victory.
Three of the side's guards were very close behind him with 10 points each.
The victory stretched the Royals' winning run to four matches and sees them through to the quarter finals where they'll play Aztec Lions away from home on Sunday (December 5).
Before that they'll take on the Lions in the league tomorrow (Tuesday) with the Royals looking to climb back to the top of the Wessex League Division 3.