Staff report

Jordan Railey scored with 12 seconds left to give the Rochester RazorSharks the lead and an eventual 95-94 win over the Kentucky Mavericks in game three of the PBL finals, clinching the franchise’s fourth consecutive league title.

In a winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday at Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial between the top regular-season defense in Rochester (84.7 points per game) and offense in Kentucky (113.5 points per game), it was Railey’s late offense and the RazorSharks late defensive stand that proved to be the difference.

Rochester stifled the Kentucky offense in the final possessions of the game, preventing the Mavericks from converting a field goal for the final 27 seconds of play. Kentucky had a final chance to win after the ball went out of bounds with 2.4 seconds remaining, but they were unable to convert.

Melvin Council led Rochester with 22 points, one of five RazorSharks to score in double digits.

Jerice Crouch, who scored the game-winner in overtime in game two of the series, finished with 18 points and four assists. Railey added 11 points for Rochester.

Rochester’s largest lead of the game was five, at the 11:05 mark of the fourth quarter. Kentucky led by as many as 12 early in the first quarter.

The win marks Rochester’s eighth league title in its 12-year history and second for head coach Chris Iversen in as many seasons leading the team. Of Iversen’s 37-3 all-time coaching record, all three losses have come against Kentucky.

The Mavericks will be entering their third season in the PBL next year, boasting a 36-7 record in that span. Four of the losses have come against Rochester.