Tariq Gabb and Wincy Lopez had breakout games at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal a couple weekends ago as they totaled 19 pts and 12 pts, respectively, for the U-15 arm of the Belize Bank Bulldogs; propelling them to the convincing 76-19 win over Corozal U-14 champs Dazzles in a friendly basketball exchange played between the two programs. Gabb and Lopez were joined in the action by Kevin Higinio who for good measure added 10 pts 8 rebs in the win. Meanwhile, the U-17 contingent led by Kachief Thomas 23 pts 10 stls 4 asst, Raheem Staine 12 pts 5 asst, Luis Barcelona 22 pts 13 rebs 7 stls, and Sherwin Garcia 10 pts 3 rebs 5 asst had their way over Corozal King of Kings, as they won by the final score of 104-51. In the end, the score did not matter, but rather the experience and the forging of new relationships between the participating players. This was all facilitated through the Corozal Basketball Association, headed by its President Antonio Andrews, as well as the management and instructors of the Bulldogs program.
The Bulldogs Basketball Development program, which is nearing its first anniversary, is headed by a dedicated group of semipro players, namely Roscoe Rhys, Rupert Brown, Paul Swasey and Darwin “Puppy” Leslie. The initiative continues to be the benchmark on which all future basketball development programs will be measured. Unlike other development programs that usually are one-off type one to two weeks programs, the Bulldogs program has shown that it is sustainable, and that it has the necessary resource to continue to breed and develop the quintessential 21st century basketball player. To celebrate its first anniversary, the basketball club will within the next month or two be organizing its first and thereafter annual U-15 and U-17 basketball tournaments. In the interim, the club is hoping shortly to travel to San Ignacio and Dangriga to participate in similar basketball exchanges with teams from those municipalities’ local associations.