Only two schools remain undefeated in primary school basketball, following Buttonwood Bay Nazarene’s surprising 23-21 win over the previously undefeated St. Ignatius School on Tuesday afternoon. Ryan White and company entered the game gleaming with confidence, and as a result were able to take the early 15-10 first half lead, which they never really relinquished. St. Ignatius, who entered the game boasting a perfect 3-0 record, now falls to (3-1) in Division B, but nevertheless maintain their lead in the division. They were led by Kenroy Ortega 9 pts.
In Monday’s action in the girls division, Queen’s Square Anglican remained undefeated, as they defeated St. Martin De Porres by the score of 14-1. Queen’s Square were led by Patricia Rhaburn 5 pts, while Kedidra Tunn scored her team’s only point. The boys encounter had similar results, with Queen’s Square winning by the score of 24 -18, behind Devin Bladen 13 pts. For St. Martin’s it was Seth Johnson 8 pts leading the way.
On Wednesday, the action resumed with the girls from Belize Elementary School posting their second win of the season, this time over St. Martin De Porres, by the score of 7-2. Trina Muria led Belize Elementary with 3 pts, while Janell Grinage scored the only two points for her team. In the boys game, the tables were reversed, however, as St. Martin’s knocked off the boys from Belize Elementary by the score of 30-20. Seth Johnson was the high man for St. Martin De Porres, hitting 10 pts, while Adrian Cardona led Belize Elementary with 5 pts.
The tournament continued this past Thursday with Queen’s Square seeing action against St. Luke Methodist for both boys and girls; then on Monday, Holy Redeemer boys and girls will see action against St. Martin De Porres. We will have those results in our next report.
FAITH NAZARENE GIRLS & SACRED HEART BOYS WIN CAYO DISTRICT PRIMARY SCHOOL
BASKETBALL INTERZONE
Faith Nazarene Girls and Sacred Heart Boys are the champions of the 2008 Cayo District Primary School Basketball Interzone Tournament. The tournament, which was staged at the Falcon Field in the Cayo District this past Wednesday, serves as a qualifier for the Western Regional Tournament, which eventually decides who represents the West in the Primary School National Tournament.
Three boys teams participated, namely Mount Carmel, Santa Elena Primary and Sacred Heart. In the girls division, the two participants were Faith Nazarene and Santa Elena Primary. Santa Elena boys and girls came out the block quickly and won their first games. However, Sacred Heart boys rebounded in their second game and promptly knocked off Mount Carmel by the score of 25-15. And, in similar fashion, the girls from Faith Nazarene came back to win their second game played for the evening, defeating Santa Elena by the score of 7-4. Following that game, the boys from Mount Carmel took to the court once again against Santa Elena; and, like their first encounter, they once again came up short, setting up a finals match-up between Santa Elena and Sacred Heart boys, with the latter coming out on top by the score of 30-19. Meanwhile, in the girls championship game, it was Faith Nazarene winning by the slimmest of margins, 4-2, over Santa Elena. From the desk we say congrats to these two schools, and particularly to the organizers of the tournament. Keep up the good work.
DEFENDING U-26 CHAMPS LAKE I OFF WITH A BANG, 94-30 OVER BUTTONWOOD BAY
The 2008 U-26 Basketball Championship got underway this past Monday night at the City Center. In the opener, defending champs Lake I Boyz won handily over Buttonwood Bay by the score of 94-30. Lake I sharpshooter and Semi-Pro basketball top prospect Ashton Edwards, the younger brother of Tyrone “Joka” Edwards and Densmore Edwards, led the Lake attack with 25 pts, hitting four from behind the arch, and in addition added 5 rebounds 4 assists and 2 steals. He was complemented by Eden Serano 13 pts 10 rebs and 5 assists. Meanwhile, for Buttonwood Bay it was Chaka X scoring 7 pts while pulling 4 rebs. His teammate Dave Apolonio also contributed 6 pts to go along with 2 rebs.
In the middle game, it was newcomer The Future, which featured a whole bunch of high school ballers, going up against an equally young team from the Capital of Belmopan known as Young Guns. The final score read 58-55 in favor of The Future. They were led by Hoops News 2007 High School Basketball Player of the Year Winston “Air Jun” Pratt, who on this night totaled a game high 25 pts to go along with 10 rebs 3 blocks, 3 steals. His accomplice in the backcourt, the equally impressive Leroy Louriano, managed to hit for 8 pts. Meanwhile, Jay Chavarria had 24 pts 9 rebs for Belmopan, while his teammate Denver Gillett contributed 12 pts 6 rebs.
Finally, in the nightcap, it was the return of Mesop Guardian Bombers to public life. When last we saw this team they were being eliminated from the 2006 Interoffice semi-finals against eventual champion Tuff E Nuff. However, on this night it was too much Egbert Wahlford (17 pts 4 rebs) and Bernard Felix (16 pts 6 rebs 4 assts 3 steals) for the Complex Bombers to overcome, as they fell by the score of 60-53. For the Bombers from Complex it was Ronald “Rifleman” Rivers scoring 17 pts to go along with 5 rebs and 2 assists. His teammate Devon Defour also got into the action, totaling 13 pts 4 rebs.