Ambassadors climb to second on the ladder as Calum Dixon and Caleb Carman star against Barking Owls

Youngster Calum Dixon and veteran Caleb Carman combined impressively to power Ambassadors to their fourth win of the Albany Basketball Association men’s A-grade competition on Tuesday night. Dixon dropped 16 points in the first half before Carman added 21 in the final 25 minutes as Ambassadors surged to a 17-point win over Barking Owls in round six. The 71-54 victory moved Ambassadors to second on the ladder, while it also ended the Owls’ three-game winning streak. Dixon started the first half with a flurry of baskets before five straight points to Austin Beeck stretched the margin to double figures midway through the first period. From that period on, Dixon knocked down all eight points for his side to finish the first half on fire for Ambassadors as the margin grew to 14. Both sides traded baskets early in the second half but Ambassadors continued to edge ahead as Carman hit nine straight points to ensure the deficit got beyond 20 points. Carman took over the contest, knocking down 21 of his side’s 39 points in the second half. Owls tried to fight their way back into the contest but Ambassadors always had a response. A flurry of points from Carman and then Carryl Macquinto snuffed out any late Owls hope and despite Evan Delbene knocking consecutive three pointers to finish the game, the Owls fell to their second loss of the season. Carman finished with a game-high 24 points and he was ably supported by Dixon (18 points). Hamish McMorran continued his strong season for Owls with 19 points and Jordi O‘Neill chipped in with 11. Infernos jumped to the top of the standings with a comprehensive 21-point win over Denmark, who entered the round on top of the ladder. Keanu Weeden dropped 20 points in the 71-50 win and Thomas Edwards was a vital edition with three triples on his way to 15. Denmark tall duo Luke Wilson (16) and Angus Brampton (12) tried their best but their side suffered their second straight loss. Tigers won their second game of the season with an emphatic 44-point win over the Raiders under-18 development squad. Corey Hill top scored with 18 points and Tigers had plenty of contributions from Tim Button (15), Dean Gliosca (14) and Danial Abbott (11) in the 74-30 win.