The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EVEN though it wasn’t the type of performance they expected, the Mail Boat Cybots proved why they are the Vince Ferguson divisional pennant winners.

On Wednesday night at the New Providence Basketball Association got its first round best-of-three playoffs underway, the Cybots withstood each challenge that the fourth place BTC Digitals threw at them to pull away down the stretch for a 111-94 decision to snatch a 1-0 lead.

Just before their game, the third place Deal Real Shockers stunned the second place Pyramid Food Rockets 82-8.

Tonight, the John Archer division will get started with the third place Conquerors facing the second place Police Crimestoppers in the opener. The feature game will be played between the fourth place PJ Stingers and the pennant winning and defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants.

Cybots 111, Digitals 94: After opening a 10-point lead at the half, the Mail Boat’s ship started to take on water as they got into the foul trouble when the man-shortened BTC rang up the numbers by taking the ball on the inside.

A couple of costly fouls that turned into technical fouls helped to pull the Digitals within three, 64-61 mid-way in the third period. With just about one minute left before the final break, the Digitals closed it in to 78-77. But using an 8-2 spurt, the Cybots stayed ahead 86-78.

The Digitals made another run to start the fourth as they came within five, 90-85. However, the Cybots regrouped and they played with a little more intensity as they completed the game on another 22-6 rout down the stretch in the final five minutes to seal the win.

“We look terrible,” said Cybots’ head coach Wayde Watson. “It’s unfortunate that the shots were falling our way as we expected them, but we should have played better defense. Fortunate for us, they were short handed, so they got a little fatigue when we picked it up. But we just have to play better than we did tonight.”

Ernest Saunders scored 19 points to lead the Cybots, while both Helson ‘Mandella’ Joseph and David Taylor had 18. Ahmad Bootle chipped in with 15; Jermaine Storr had nine; Brian ‘Tucker’ Bain eight; Garvin Lightbourn seven and Robert Missick six before he fouled out.

For the Digitals, Lorenzo Carter pumped in a game high 33 points, Lloyd Bailey had 22, Barry Carter 12 and both Cordero Thompson and Perez Thompson contributed 10 apiece.

“My son (Stephen Culmer) has an injury. His shoulder is out of place and Dannon Carter hurt his grin. They are two of our key players and they were not available to play today,” said BTC’s head coach Stephen Culmer Sr. “We really got hurt on the boards. My son normally control the boards.

“We gave them a run until the last two minutes. We were tired. We only had six of them out there. But I think they gave it their all. I compliment them. They gave it their all. That’s all they had.”

Both teams have vowed to play much better than they did and hopefully give the fans a more competitive game on Saturday night.

Shockers 82, Rockets 81: Floyd Armbrister converted his two biggest points from the free throw line with the game on the line as he helped the Real Deal to take their opener. Armbrister, however, finished with a game high 31 points. He was assisted by Wilfred Culmer with 16. Devon Brennen had 11 and Corey Williams added nine.

In a losing effort, Henderson Curry scored a side high 18. Adorn Charlow had 17, Taureen Mackey 15, Tameko Moxey 14 and Demetri Mackey 10.

“It was okay because it’s a victory. Whether you win by one or you win by plenty, it still comes out as a victory,” said Shocker’s head coach James Price. “It pus us in the position to be in the driver’s seat. In a best-of-three series, the first one is the most important one, so we are happy to pull it off.”

For game two on Saturday night, Price said their intentions are not to take any chances. He said they intend to come back and blow out the Rockets to complete the sweep and get ready for the winner of the Cybots-Digitals series for the divisional championship.