The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NOW a staple on the Christmas season’s sporting calendar, the Providence Holiday Basketball Classic continues to expand in its 11th edition.

The tournament is scheduled to tip off on December 27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium featuring 24 of the best senior boys’ squads throughout the country.

CI Gibson Rattlers head coach and tournament director Kevin Johnson said the tournament will be highlighted by a deep talent pool of Family Island players.

“We have a lot of participation from the Family Island this year, we even have a team from Acklins, another from San Salvador, Eleuthera, Abaco, Grand Bahama,” he said. “So it’s all about keeping the young men busy. They want to play the game of basketball at this time and give themselves an opportunity to be seen by these scouts so hopefully somebody will be seen and that’s the whole objective to give our Bahamian kids an opportunity to go abroad and finish their education.”

For the past few editions, the tournament has come down to a battle between Johnson’s Rattlers and Mario Bowleg’s CC Sweeting Cobras.

In the 2012 edition, both teams played the tournament finale with a pending GSSSA suspension looming when the regular season resumed.

The Cobras prevailed with an impressive 91-77 triumph over the Rattlers and, despite missing the GSSSA season, went on to win their second consecutive Hugh Campbell title. Rashad Davis was named the MVP with 23 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Alvano Miller added 28 points with 11 rebounds, eight steals and five assists while Dionte Strachan had 10 points.

For the Rattlers, Oatman Lightbourn and Kristan Francis both had 16 points and Wilton Strachan finished with 11 points. After the game, both teams gathered at half-court in a show of sportsmanship, prayed and discussed the rivalry.

In 2011, it was the Rattlers who claimed the tournament title when they defeated the Sweeting Cobras 91-87 to reclaim the title they last held in 2008 and prevent the Cobras from winning back-to-back titles. Lamont Armaly finished with 22 points for CI Gibson. Kristen Francis, who was named the championship MVP, had 20, William Rigby 17 and Alcott Fox finished with 12 points in the win.

The Cobras were led by Alvano Miller with 21, Rashad Davis had 18, Angelo Lockhart had 16 points, Dionte Strachan chipped in with 14 points and Roosevelt Whylly added 10 in the loss.