The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Queen’s College Comets withstood a late run by the St John’s College Giants and held on to take game two and claim the BAISS Junior Boys Basketball Championship.

The Comets escaped with a 52-48 yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to claim their third consecutive championship in the division.

With Daejour Adderley advanced to the senior division, Coach Dwayne Smith retooled with a balanced scoring approach which overpowered teams all season in route to a perfect record.

At least four Comets finished with at least nine points, led by sharpshooting ANthony ROlle who finished with a team high 12.

Phillip McKenzie added 11, while Corey Deveaux and Julius Nottage each finished with nine apiece.

Malik Jones led the Giants with 17 points, Axinde Maynard added 12, Raheem Nixon finished with 11 and Bryan Clarke added seven

The Comets took a 40-33 lead into the fourth quarter and led by as much as 11 in the final fram before the Giants staged a late rally.

Trailing 45-34 with just over three minutes left to play, the Giants responded with a 7-0 run to work their way back into the game.

Nixon’s three point play made it 45-41 before Rolle responded for the Comets with a jumper to stop the Giants’ run.

Maynard scored on a jumphook in the lane to again bring the Giants within striking distance, 48-45 with 1:09 left to play, but the Comets were able to clinch the game from the line in the game’s final moments.

In the first quarter, QC took an early lead with on a 7-0 run, capped by a McKenzie three point play.

The Giants ballhandlers had trouble handling the Comets’ halfcourt trap and it lead to QC taking an early 10 point lead.

The Comets took a 20-10 lead on Nottage’s buzzer beating jumper from the right wing to end the first.

The Comets appeared well on their way to repeating game one’s 47-30 blowout win, but the Giants were able to do enough to stay in the game.

The QC lead grew to as much as 14 on a Rolle jumper before Maynard power a Giants’ comeback.

Rolle came off the bench with instant offense and kept the Giants at bay in the second finishing 4-5 from field in the quarter.

His jumper gave the Comets a 32-21 lead and they took a 32-23 at half.