May 9th Charlotte NC - The race for playoff positioning in the ECBL tightened even more Saturday afternoon as the PrimeTime Players outlasted the Charlotte Blue Jackets 138-134 in a high-level battle between two of the league’s top contenders at Marion Diehl Recreation Center.

With the victory, PrimeTime Players improve to 8-3 on the season and currently move into the No. 3 seed in the ECBL standings, while the Charlotte Blue Jackets also sit at 8-3 and fall into the No. 4 position. Both teams still have two regular season games remaining as the playoff race continues to intensify.

PrimeTime came out aggressive offensively in the opening quarter behind the hot hand of James Richardson. Richardson exploded for 14 first-quarter points and helped the Players build early momentum in a fast-paced opening period. PrimeTime led 36-32 after one quarter as both offenses traded baskets throughout the opening frame.

The second quarter proved to be a major turning point for PrimeTime. Jacori Owens sparked the offense with eight consecutive points during a key stretch, while Demetrius Richardson added 10 second-quarter points to help the Players take control of the game heading into halftime. PrimeTime outscored Charlotte 39-33 in the period to carry a 75-65 advantage into the break.

Charlotte refused to go away in the second half. The Blue Jackets answered with a huge third quarter, pouring in 41 points behind balanced scoring and efficient shooting to erase the deficit and tie the game entering the fourth quarter. Both teams entered the final period deadlocked at 106-106, setting up a dramatic finish between two championship contenders.

In the fourth quarter, PrimeTime Players delivered in winning time. The Players came up with three critical defensive stops late in the game and showed composure at the free throw line in the final minute, knocking down 5-of-6 free throws to seal the victory.

PrimeTime finished the game shooting an impressive 58.7% from the field while dishing out 32 assists as a team.

James Richardson led the Players with 32 points and continued his strong all-around performance throughout the contest. Cornellius Reynolds added 27 points and dominated the glass with 16 rebounds, while Jalin Alexander scored 25 points with four assists. Chris Moore contributed 23 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in another near triple-double effort.

Demetrius Richardson provided a huge spark off the bench with 14 points, while Jacori Owens added 10 points including his momentum-shifting run in the second quarter. Kerigan Farley chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.

Charlotte Blue Jackets were led by Lavon Hightower, who erupted for a game-high 42 points in the loss. Christian Nobles added 25 points, Malik Dunbar scored 19, and Eli Smith finished with 18 points and eight assists.

The matchup lived up to expectations as two of the ECBL’s premier teams battled for playoff positioning with postseason intensity. With only two games remaining in the regular season for both clubs, every game will continue to carry major implications in the race for seeding heading into the ECBL Playoffs.