The hottest team in the league – the San Pedro Tigersharks just keeps rolling along, and this past Friday extended their winning streak to four in a row, as they won over arch-rival Jamboree by the final score of 80-75. Ironically, prior to the addition of foreign players, the Tigersharks were at the bottom of the league with an (0-2) record. However, post-foreign players’ addition has been extremely generous to the Tigersharks, who with their recent play now have most local basketball pundits tabbing them as the team to beat in the league. The Tigersharks took one step closer to that coveted distinction last Friday night when they faced Jamboree, who, in similar fashion, boasted an impressive line-up, featuring National Team player Richard Troyer and foreign import Judson Stubbs. The game was played well at both the offensive and defensive ends, with no team being able to outscore the other by more than five points in any given quarter. Jamboree’s Richard Troyer played particularly well and had a game high 35 pts. However, he did not have much help from his supporting cast, as the next closest to him was Ronald Rivers with 13 pts. In contrast, the Tigersharks had a much more balanced attack, with Gene Myvett totaling 24 pts 14 rebs 4 asst, followed by Ivan Jackson 21 pts and Damion Staples 17 pts 12 rebs. The Sharks were more efficient from the field, hitting 40% from the field on 32 of 80 from the field, compared to Jamboree’s 36% clip. On the glass, the contest was more or less even; however, the tell-tale signs of Jamboree demise were the 28 turnovers committed and the nominal interceptions (4) they as a team could force. These two particular stats are usually in favor and typical of a Matthew Smiling coached team. However, on Friday night those elements were against them, and they wound up losing the game.
In the other senior game played over the weekend, it was the Belmopan Bandits, inspired by their fallen teammate Aubrey Lopez, remaining undefeated, as they handed Creative Graphics Impression their third straight loss, this one by the final score of 82-77. Kirk “Chengo” Burgess, who undoubtedly is this team’s new leader, played great, as he totaled a double-double 20 pts 18 rebs 5 asst 3 stls. He was ably assisted by Christian Rodriguez’s 14 pts, and Jay Chavarria and Rhetton Belisle 11 pts each. The team, obviously still dealing with the effects of their grief, could only muster a 32% field goal percentage, however were better on the boards, as they outrebounded CGI 56-42. The latter once again shot respectably from both the field and the charity strips at a clip of 42% and 73%, respectively. However, this did not translate into a win, as they were once again outscored in the third and fourth quarters, 34 to 28. Andre Almendarez had a game high 28 pts 13 rebs, followed by Harris Patten 17 pts 10 rebs and Kelvin Gillett 15 pts 5 rebs.
HOLD-ON SMART IMPROVES TO (5-1) WITH WINS OVER LAKE I BOYS AND GHETTO BALLERS
Hold-On Smart won two this past weekend in U-19 play, as they handed Lake I Boys their fourth loss of the season with an 83-57 beat-down on Friday night, then followed up that win on Friday with a convincing 58-42 win over Ghetto Ballers on Sunday afternoon. On Friday night, it was Jamaal Kelly 28 pts 2 rebs leading the way, followed by Russell Staine 17 pts. While on Sunday, it was the reverse, with Russell Staine topping the score with 14 pts, followed by Jamaal Kelly 13 pts. Lake I Boys scoring had Ryan Theus leading his team with 17 pts 4 rebs, followed by Alberto Cuellar 16 pts 3 rebs. On Sunday, Ghetto Ballers had Albert Tasher hitting 28 pts, followed by Michael Swift 6 pts.
Meanwhile, other scores had Truckers winning by the score of 108-62 over NHI, behind Oliver Solis 39 pts 17 rebs and Kadeem Tam 15 pts 5 rebs. For the now (0-6) NHI it was Michael Roches totaling 17 pts 5 rebs, followed by Dennis Brown 14 pts 9 rebs.
Orange Walk Running Rebels kept pace with the Belize Bank Bulldogs, winning their fifth game in as many outings and setting up a show-down, come the end of the season, between themselves and the Bulldogs. The Running Rebels had six players scoring in double figures in their 103-55 thumping of the Youth Hostel. Their scoring was led by Michael Martinez and Omar Tesecum 17 pts each, Jamal Harris 15 pts, Randy Usher and Marcel Richards 12 apiece, and Roger Reneau with 11 pts. The youths from the Hostel were led by Stannis Thomas 25 pts and Raheem Moriano 12 pts.
BECOL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Scores from games played over the weekend in the 2010 BECOL Basketball Championship had Ball Stars pulling off the big 63-56 upset win over E3 Rebirth, with Dijon Mcnab totaling 22 pts 17 rebs 4 blks for Ball Stars, followed by Julian “Big Up” Guzman 17 pts 5 rebs 3 asst and Vijahn Scott 10 pts. E3 Rebirth, who even with the loss still hold the top spot in the U-18 division, was led by Elliot “Tito” Bermudez 24 pts 6 rebs and Elvis “Zui’ Usher 12 pts 3 rebs.
In Over-35 play Buca Belmopan, behind Fred “Ounce” Mortar 14 pts 6 rebs and Arthur “Dykes” Young, handed Eclipse their fourth straight loss by the final score of 52-29. Edward “Eddie” Pineda led the Eclipse attack with 8 pts 4 rebs, followed by Elvis ‘Tigre” Usher 7 pts 3 rebs.
Meanwhile in senior ball, E3/Belize Bank Stars improved to (5-1) on the year, as they had their way with Plebe, winning by the final score of 83-48, behind Shannon Guzman 21 pts 2 rebs, Elvis “Zui’ Usher 18 pts 5 rebs and Jimmy Rudon 18 pts 2 rebs. For Plebe it was Emerson “Emo” King totaling 17 pts, followed by Tom Diego 13 pts 6 rebs and Ivan “Stainless” Flowers 12 pts 3 rebs. In other games, real Fundaz forfeited their game to Junior Warriors, while two other games were postponed due to inclement weather. Those games have been rescheduled and we should have those scores in our next report.
Friday, 28th May, 2010
Game 1 – 6:30 p.m. (U18 Division) BallStars (3-2) vs No Ceilings
Game 2 – 7:30 p.m. (O35 Division) Hydro Power vs Eclipse
Game 3 – 9:00 p.m. (Seniors) Gold vs Plebe
Saturday 29th May, 2010
Game 1 – 6:30 p.m. (U21 Division) Belmopan Trojans vs Cayo Ballers
Game 2 – 7:30 p.m. (Seniors) Invaders vs BNE Oilers
Game 3 – 9:00 p.m. (Seniors) Christ for Life vs Warriors