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ROOKIE GREG RUDON’S GAME HIGH 27 PTS LEADS TIGERSHARKS TO 2007 SEMI- PRO TITLE WITH 79-68 WIN OVER THE BULLDOGS

SportsROOKIE GREG RUDON’S GAME HIGH 27 PTS LEADS TIGERSHARKS TO 2007 SEMI- PRO TITLE WITH 79-68 WIN OVER THE BULLDOGS
Huge first quarter and fourth quarter runs by the San Pedro Tigersharks, coupled with the unanticipated and abrupt leave of absence by Bulldogs’ head coach just one week before game three of the 2007 Finals, in the end were all major factors that contributed to the Tigersharks’ eventually winning the game, 79-68, and, in the process, the 2007 Semi-Pro Basketball Championship.
 
The Bulldogs’ starters once again had no answer for rookie Greg “Chippy” Rudon, who opened up first quarter play by hitting four three-pointers, as his team took the huge 21-9 first quarter lead. It was not until Darwin “Puppy” Leslie and veteran Darren “MVP” Bovell were inserted into the game that the Bulldogs began a second quarter chase, which saw them outscore their opponents, 23-16, and in the process pulled to within three points of the lead, 32-35, with 0:15 seconds remaining until half-time. However, an ill-advised substitution by the Bulldogs’ coaching staff on the ensuing play, and a subsequent turnover led to a slam dunk by Tigershark Damian Staples, which increased his team’s lead to 37-32 at the half.
 
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs, who obviously had the momentum after the second quarter run, started out hot, outscoring the Tigersharks, 25-18, and eventually taking a five-point lead. However, the Tigersharks responded once again, going consistently inside to big man Damian Staples, who on this night seemed unstoppable and played like a man among boys. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs were able to withstand the surge and led at the end of the third, 57-55. Good fourth-quarter play, which, for most of the season, has been the Bulldogs’ domain and a recipe for their success in closing out opponents, on this night would not happen. As a team they could only muster 11 points, compared to the Tigersharks’ 24, which was sparked by two key three-pointers hit by Greg “Chippy” Rudon and veteran Kevin Siroki, which were the final nails in the coffin, and which, for all intents and purposes, ended the Bulldogs’ season, and in the process gave the San Pedro Tigersharks their first semi-pro basketball title.
 
The champions, as a team, shot 45% from the field, compared to the Bulldogs’ 28%; from the free throw line the latter shot 59%, while the champs made 50% of their attempts. The Tigersharks ruled the boards, out-rebounding their opponents, 43-30, and at the same time distributed the ball much better, as they totaled eighteen team assists, compared to the Bulldogs’ eleven. Fouls committed were even at 26-26, while in the block shot department the Tigersharks had five, while the Bulldogs could only muster two.
 
Individually, Greg “Chippy” Rudon had 27 points, hitting six of nine from three-point land; while his teammate Damian Staples had a double-double, totaling 17 pts 20 rebs. Judson Stubbs led the Bulldogs with 15 pts 6 rebs, followed by Tyrone “Joka” Edwards with 13 pts and Darwin “Puppy” Leslie with 11 pts.
 
For the Tigersharks, winning this year’s championship is obviously bittersweet. A year ago, they were in the same position the Bulldogs were in this year; they were up in the series two games to nothing; however, lost that series three games to two to the eventual champions, the University of Belize Black Jaguars. Like poetic justice, this year they have returned the favor to the Bulldogs, who were up one game to nothing early in the best of three series. In retrospect, it just goes to show that when the opportunity presents itself for you to close out a team, you must try your utmost best to do it; there’s no telling what could emerge.

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