_{Photo: Defenders – Richard Smith III blocks Victor Evans}

by William Ysaguirre

BELIZE CITY, Sun. Aug. 4, 2024

The Benny’s Hurricanes tied the Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL) best-of-five finals series, 2-2, when they dominated the Belize City Defenders, 94-70, in Game 4 of the finals at the Belize City Civic Center on Sunday night, after the Defenders had taken a 2-1 series lead by an 81-75 win over the Hurricanes in a replay of Game 3 at the Civic on Friday night, August 2.

African import Sidibe Bourama led the Hurricanes’ attack with 17 points, and Victor Evans put up 16 points. Amar Ross struck thrice from outside the circle, as he and Tyrie Orosco posted 12 points each. Glency “Coope” Lopez shot 10 points, Marquise Cunningham and Jamel Harris netted 8 points apiece, and Kirk Smith, Jr. tossed in 5 points.

MVP Nigel Jones also struck from outside the arc as he led the Defenders with 24 points, and Devin Daly followed suit for 11 points. Daniel Estes played big D, snagging 12 boards as he put up 9 points, and BEBL rookie Shane Pratt and Richard Smith III shot 8 points each. D’Von Campbell netted 6 points, and John Kelly and Everald Tablada tossed in a bucket apiece.

On Friday night, in the controversial replay of Game 3, (in which the Hurricanes had won a protest of the original game result), the Defenders had punctuated their lead 43-42 at intermission, 66-60 in the third quarter, and 81-75 at the final buzzer. MVP Nigel Jones struck thrice from outside the circle for 25 points, as he and Richard Smith III snagged 12 boards apiece. Overall, the Defenders dominated the glass: 54 rebounds to the Hurricanes’ 48, along with 2 blocks to Hurricanes’ 4 blocks. Daniel Estes posted 13 points, Daly struck twice from outside the arc for 12 points, and Pratt scored 10 points. D’Von Campbell struck thrice from outside the arc, as he and John Kelly netted 9 points apiece. Tablada tossed in 3 points.

Harris also struck thrice from behind the arc to lead the Hurricanes with 21 points. Victor Evans followed suit with 2 treys for 18 points, and Glency Lopez put up 13 points. Marquise Cunningham scored 10 points, Brandon Flowers netted 4 points, and Bourama and Ross threw in a bucket apiece. Kirk Smith, Nick Philips and Eyan Rene had a combined playing time of 25 minutes on court, but did not score.

The decisive Game 5 for the championship comes up on Friday night at the Civic.