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World Down Syndrome Day

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OUTA GRIGA DANG – CHAMPS!!!! BELIZE BANK BENGUCHE & GHAN’S AVENUE

SportsOUTA GRIGA DANG – CHAMPS!!!! BELIZE BANK BENGUCHE & GHAN’S AVENUE
The party was on in the Benguche neighborhood this past Saturday, as Belize Bank Benguche ran past Wamada Trip by the score of 73-56 in the 2009 Senior Championship game played at Y-Not-Island in front of a standing room only crowd to claim their first championship played under the Belize Bank logo. Earl Johnson shined for Benguche on 10-18 from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line, on his way to 27 points and 11 rebounds. Darwin Leslie added 15 pts 6 rebs, while Tyrone Castillo contributed 11 pts 7 rebs and 3 assts, and Omar Castillo finished with 13 pts 5 assts. For Wamada TRIP, Gary Francisco led the way with 17 pts 4 rebs 3 assts, followed by Travis Lennon 15 pts 10 rebs, and Stephen Williams 11pts 6 rebs and 3 assts.
  
Belize Bank Benguche entered the game as the number 1 seeded team, and the team with the most balanced attack. As a team, they featured 5 players averaging between 9-16 points per game, including national team player Darwin “Puppy” Leslie and last season MVP Tyrone Castillo. Their opponent Wamada TRIP was equally strong, and featured two national team players of their own in Stephen “Muerte” Williams and Travis Lennon, as well as the most unstoppable offensive force in 2009, Gary Francisco.
  
In attendance were BBF President Paul Thompson and National Team Head Coach Kevin Siroki. This was easily the biggest senior match-up Dangriga’s Y-Not Island had seen, since the days of Spaceline Bulls and Habet Esanigu. Not to be up-staged on his home court was Benguche’s point guard Omar Castillo, who came out aggressive from the opening tip with 7 first-quarter points, 2 assists and 1 steal. One beneficiary of Castillo’s aggressive play was Earl Johnson who hit 4 baskets and 2 free throws, also in the first quarter, for 10 points. Their efforts netted a 13-point lead after the first frame. The only offense TRIP could muster was from Travis Lennon, who had 7 points in the quarter, and Gary Francisco, who had four after missing on his first 3 attempts from the field, and his splitting a pair of free throws twice. TRIP seemed impatient on offense and it showed in the efforts of their main offensive options like Stephen Williams, who only hit on 1 of his first 7 shots early in the first, and did not impact the scoreboard again until the fourth quarter, when it was all but over for them. Despite cooling off in the second quarter, Benguche still managed to carry a 15-point halftime lead. In the second half it was more of the same, with both teams relying heavily on their respective starting fives. While neither bench impacted the box score, Benguche bench however did out-rebound the TRIP bench, 11-3, which ultimately gave them extra scoring opportunities, and was significant in the blow-out performance in the championship game.
  
Meanwhile, in the U-19 Championship game, Ghans Avenue, powered by Daniel Nolberto and Winston “Air Jun” Pratt, combined for 12 of the 15 first quarter points, and 28 of the 36 first half points, on their way to outscoring their opponents C&M Rebuilders, to take the early 36-21 halftime lead. Rebuilders’ guards Jamir Flores and Edgar Mitchell pushed for a comeback in the second half by combining for 22 points, but could only cut the 15-point halftime deficit by 2 by the end of regulation, as Nolberto and Pratt added 18 more to secure the championship, on their way to the big 69-56 win. While Rebuilders out-rebounded Ghans, critical second chance points by Ghans foiled any attempts at a meaningful comeback. Nolberto finished with 22 pts 8 rebs, and Pratt finished with 24 pts 8 rebs. Meanwhile, Jamir Flores of Rebuilders tallied 15 pts 10 rebs and 2 assts, and Edgar Mitchell had 15 pts 3 rebs.
 
VINDICATION – BELIZE CITY COUNCIL 2009 INTEROFFICE CHAMPS
 
After enduring post season failures for the past two seasons in a row, the Belize City Council last week Friday, in front of a jam-packed Belize City Center, exorcized ghosts from the past resoundingly, as they humiliated Atlantic Bank Ltd. in the third and decisive game in the championship series, winning by the final score of 65-46, and in the process improved to (4-0) this year when facing elimination. After losing game one by the score of 64-46, the Council, led by veteran Head Coach Brads Neal, showed remarkable poise, and was able to regroup, make the necessary adjustments, which ultimately contributed to their winning two games in a row by an average of almost 15 ppg. The score results of the final two games is a clear indication that ABL, following their game one victory, began a premature celebration which resulted in a prolonged hangover, from which they were never able to recover. Their main offensive guns in Andrew “Head” Staine and Darwin “Dawgy” Elijio were held in check in games two and three by a City Council team who showed tremendous resolve and commitment on the defensive end. This defensive approach charge was led, of course, by Randolph “Panta” Hinks, who with his energetic style of play, harassed and made life extremely miserable for the ABL backcourt. Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Belize City Council obviously came into game three with a carefully and wittily designed game plan. For the first time in the series, Belize City Council was able to get out a bit in transition, make some easy hoops, and at the same time utilize the strength of their guards in the post, particularly Gadsen Ferguson, against the much weaker David Apolonio. These small game-to-game adjustments made by Brads Neal in games two and three were, in Hoops News perspective, the difference in the outcome of the series. Neal clearly demonstrated far superior coaching skills when compared to ABL Head Coach Leroy “Tambran” Young, who, shockingly, did not make any adjustments in the series, and instead relied principally on the 3-pointer shot, and on a more one-and-one type style of play. Kenroy “MVP” Usher led Belize City Council with 22 pts, including four 3-pointers, to go along with 4 rebs and 3 stls, followed by the consistent play of Virgil “Butta” Miller 13 pts 7 rebs. Meanwhile, for ABL it was Dave Apolonio with 13 pts, followed by Andrew “Head” Staine with 11 pts 5 rebs.
  
With the win, Belize City Council captures their first ever interoffice basketball title, while for ABL the #13 remains an unlucky number. Hopefully, #14 brings them better luck next year. From the Desk we congratulate the champs on a victory well earned.   

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