Lancaster were ruthlessly efficient in securing a 64-55 win in spite of only having seven players to rotate for the game. Lancaster seemed relaxed throughout and as if they had a couple of extra gears available if they had needed them.
Justin Uresti was imperious in the first quarter with numerous clever passes and finishing off two fast breaks. Captain Charalambos Hadjitheodosiou nonchalantly dispatched six free-throws in the opening quarter. In spite of seeming to dominate the opening quarter Lancaster were only leading 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Each attack that Lancaster formulated seemed fluent and meaningful whereas York’s were a little stop-start. However with York’s tenacity in the offensive and in particular defensive rebounds the game was far closer than it should have been.
Uresti started the second quarter as he finished the first, with enthusiasm and the consummate ease of a professional, effortlessly scoring a three-pointer to set the tone for the rest of the quarter.
Dimitris Karakasis provided a moment of magic in the second quarter as he dribbled past three York players with a dazzling run before drawing the foul. Karakasis finished the two free-throw efforts with aplomb. Hadjitheodosiou began to control the tempo of the game in the second quarter, helping Lancaster to a 35-27 half-time lead.
Uresti and Karakasis combined magnificently in the third and Lancaster looked to have the game all but won at 49-39. As York began to battle their way back into their game Craig Cefferty put paid to their plans as he picked up his first three-pointer of the game. It was a hammer blow to York who seemed immediately dejected as it rippled the netting.
Hadjitheodosiou took a heavy blow to the hip after a seemingly deliberate trip by his York opponent early in the fourth. In recognition of his efforts, the Lancaster crowd cheered and applauded him as he slumped off the pitch in pain.
Craig Cefferty picked up two important free-throws for Lancaster. Karakasis followed suit from the free-throw line making two from two to see Lancaster edge away once more. However after a brief spell on the sidelines to recover, Hadjitheodosiou returned with a bang, scoring a two-pointer and two free-throws seeing Lancaster take the match 64-55.
Hadjitheodosiou had this to say “It is the best way to close a season. Not everyone could make it, but those that could gave it 100%. It is a great feeling to win at Roses and in my final game for Lancaster.”
