The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Sebastian Gray saved his best game for the finale of the Centrobasket Under-15 Championship for Men yesterday, leading the Bahamas to a third place finish to secure a berth in the Tournament of the Americas.

The Bahamas won 63-47 over Guatemala in the third place game, led by Gray’s 25 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.

Daejour Adderley added 11 points, Shamar Burrows finished with eight points and 15 rebounds, Travis Barnett added nine points and Shamal Miller finished with five points and nine rebounds.

The Bahamas outscored Guatemala 46-30 in the paint and held a 52-38 rebounding advantage.

Guatemala took the first period 14-10, but the Bahamas was sparked by six points from Gray, a part of a 12-0 run to open the second quarter and surge ahead.

Guatemala broke the run with a free throw from Carlos Najera 2:06 into the quarter.

The Bahamas held Guatemala to single-digit scoring in the period and took a 29-23 lead into the half, after they outscored their opponents, 19-9.

Jilimar Morales’ layup trimmed the deficit to one, 34-33, with 4:00 left to play in the quarter before the Bahamas separated itself with another run.

Adderley’s basket and following free throws on the next possession were the first points of a 12-2 run to close the quarter.

The Bahamas took an 11-point lead into the fourth 46-35, and again opened the fourth on a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach.

The lead reached 20 for the first time when Gray made a pair at the line for a 55-35 lead with 7:56 left to play.

The lead grew to as much as 28 on a free throw from Barnett with just under five minutes left to play.

The CentroBasket is an International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-sponsored basketball tournament featuring Central American and Caribbean countries in the Central American and Caribbean Confederation.

The top four teams in the Centrobasket earn berths to the FIBA America Championships.

Against Puerto Rico in the semifinals, the Bahamas fell behind quickly early, and was unable to recover against the tournament’s top ranked team despite giving up just nine points in the fourth quarter.

Puerto Rico advanced to the final with a 78-55 win.

Burrows was the only Bahamian player to reach double figures with a team leading 10 points and five rebounds.

Miller chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds while Raheem Laing and Barnett finished with eight points apiece.

Ivan Rosa led Puerto Rico with 16 points while Ebube Ezegwula-Ebube finished with 15.

Puerto Rico jumped out to an early 29-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 47-30 at the half.

The Bahamas had their worst shooting period of the game, outscored 22-9 in the third period as the lead grew to as much as 22 in the quarter. They rebounded to take the fourth quarter 16-9, but was ultimately undone by 21 turnovers and Puerto Rico’s 15 point advantage from beyond the three point line.

Host country El Salvador finished fifth after an 84-67 win over Costa Rica.

Barbados finished seventh after a 64-49 win over the Cayman Islands, the only team to go winless in the tournament.

Puerto Rico faced Mexico in the final. However, results were unavailable up to press time last night.