INSIDE 2008 BECOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS HEATING UP!!!
The 2008 Becol Basketball playoffs continued last weekend with a full slate of games on the schedule. On Thursday night in U-20 action, Hydro Power’s Shane Rosales hit two big free throws in the waning moments of regulation to propel his team to a 43-42 win over West Side. Xuran Tan 16 pts and Lloyd “Lepp” Molina 10 pts led Hydro Power’s offense, while Halil Alcoser 13 pts and Alfonso Tesecum were the key players for West Side. With the win, Hydro Power leads that best of three series (1-0) and will look for the sweep tonight in game two of tonight’s match-up.
While the U-20 Hydro Power will be looking for the sweep in their series, the Over 35 Hydro Power, on the other hand, will be fighting to stay alive tonight against Belmopan Bandits, who last week defeated them, 55-47, in game one. Clifford King and Fred Banks scored 16 and 9 pts, respectively, for Belmopan; while Samuel Martinez scored 12 pts in the loss. In the other bracket, Benque Rockers, behind Kirk “Pappa” Jones 22 pts and Maino “Skull” Bevans 16 pts, got by ICB Veterans by the score of 64-54. The Veterans, who were led by Shelton Defour and Elvis “Tigre” Usher 13 pts, will be looking to extend their series to a third and decisive game tonight when they once again face the Rockers.
In the senior division, Belize Bank “Diamonds” have secured a berth in this year’s finals, following a sweep of SHJC/BNE by the scores of 58-42 and 63-58. Belize Bank’s Lester Cadle led his team in scoring in both games, as he averaged 25.5 ppg. SHJC/BNE was led by Kirk “Chengo” Burgess 12 pts on Friday night, and Mervin “Bae” Castillo 14 pts on Saturday night. The other senior bracket, which is being played between defending champs E Three Stars and Christ for Life, is all knotted up at one game apiece, with the third and decisive game scheduled for tomorrow night. Game one of that series saw Christ for Life winning by the score of 73-61, behind Keith “Superman” Acosta 25 pts, while E Three Stars were led by the duo of Jimmy Rudon and Mark O’ Brien 18 pts each. In the U-17 bracket, the favorite to win it all, Sacred Heart College, by all accounts should close out this series tomorrow night, following their 48-28 trouncing of the Wolves. Dijon McNabb and Shimeon Simpson led their team in scoring with 13 pts each, while Julian Guzman led the Wolves with 13 pts.
SUPERFOODS “BOONES” WIN 2008 CHAMPS IN BRODIES INTERDEPARTMENT BASKETBALL
It was too much Ashley Hemsley (16 pts 19 rebs 2 asst 7 steals) and Warren Davis (16 pts 6 steals) for the Warehouse Breeze to handle, as they fell, 53-42, to Superfoods Boones in the championship game of the 2008 Brodies Interdepartmental basketball tournament. In the female leg of the tournament, Superfoods Girls won over Office Girls by the score of 29-18, and in the process captured this year’s title. Camisha Swazo scored 15 pts, followed by Candice August 14 pts for Superfoods; while Pricilla Grant led the Office Girls with 11 pts. From the desk, we say congrats to both Superfoods Boones and Girls on their championship performances. In addition, we also extend congratulations to the MVP of the tournament, Ashley Hemsley, who averaged 23 ppg 16.8 rpg 8 apg, and the female and male three-point shot winners, Camisha Swazo and Kenrick August.
JACOB LESLIE 28 PTS LEADS “OPEN DOOR SAINTS” TO 78-69 WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPS IN CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
In games played in the 2008 Shine Your Light Christian basketball league this past Saturday afternoon at Bird’s Isle, Jacob Leslie’s 28 pts was good enough to lift Open Door Saints, 78-69, over defending champs M&M Promise Keepers. Leslie’s 28 pts was complimented by his teammate Jerome “Penny” Ellis 22 pts 13 rebs. Meanwhile, for M&M Promise Keepers it was Andrew “Jew Boy” Robateau totaling 27 pts 20 rebs 3 blocks, followed by Jason Lamb with 16 pts 11 rebs. In the second game, Horizon destroyed Lake I Baptist, 67-52, behind Charles Armstrong 19 pts 4 rebs 5 asst and Jason Bradley 15 pts 13 rebs. Meanwhile, Lake I was led by Darwin “Prince” Zuniga 24 pts 15 rebs and Eric Reynolds 10 pts 10 rebs.
The tournament continues tomorrow at Bird’s Isle, when Open Door Saints will try to make it two in a row, as they face Horizon; while Lake I Baptist will seek to rebound against Sandhill, following last weekend’s loss.