The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The CI Gibson Rattlers, the winningest school out of New Providence, is on a quest for another title in the 30th Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic. The Queen’s College Comets, the new kids on the block, are hoping that they can prove that they are indeed for real this year as a first time contender.

The Comets, coming off their three-game sweep over the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine for the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ crown, opened the double elimination tournament with a stunning 60-52 victory over the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s champions CR Walker Knights in the feature game on day one Monday night.

Just before that game at the newly refurbished AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Rattlers made a statement as they routed the Temple Christian Suns 80-31. They came right back to highlight the first session of day two on Tuesday and knocked off the Teleos Cherubims 58-35 to move their record to 2-0.

Also in the final session on Monday, the CV Bethel Stingrays outlasted the Mt Carmel Stingrays 35-23. And in the two other games in Tuesday’s opening session, the RM Bailey Pacers held off the Kingsway Academy Saints 54-39 and the Westminster Diplomats out-ran the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons 58-46.

Comets 60, Knights 52

After watching MVP Van Hutchinson Jr get off to a fast start to give CR Walker a 14-5 and 22-20 lead at the end of the first and second quarter, Daejour Adderley went on a three-point shooting spree for Queen’s College’s 42-31 third quarter lead and Lerecus Armbrister put on a classic display in the fourth as they pulled off the big win.

“It was tough. They put us against the (GSSSA) champions, but we had to step it up,” said Comets’ coach Dwayne Smith. “We haven’t practiced in a week and a half. We were supposed to be on mid-term break, but the guys say they wanted to play. So we have no regrets. We had two guys who really took it to another level.”

Armbrister, who dazzled the crowd and mesmerised his opponents as he darted in and outside, finished with a game high 22 points. Adderley, who connected three of 10 shots from behind the three-point arch, joined Dominic Bethel in scoring 12 each. Bethel also pulled down nine rebounds.

Forced to find a way to put off the clamping defense that the Comets put on him in the second half, Hutchinson managed to finish with a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds for CR Walker, who also got 12 from Joseph Robert.

Rattlers 80, Suns 31

CI Gibson went on a 12-2 run in the first quarter and extended it to 23-9 at the half as they were clicking on all cylinders in an impressive victory.

“We just wanted to come out and play hard. It’s been a while since we played at this level, so we wanted to come out and execute,” said CI Gibson’s coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson. “I felt we played pretty good, but we just have to stay focus because every game is different. But our goal is to get to the championship.”

In a balanced scoring attack, Carlis Carey had 12 points, Oatman Lightbourne 11 and Quincey Poitier 10. Darren Symonette scored nine points to lead Temple Christian.

Rattlers 58, Cherubims 35

Unlike their opening game, CI Gibson got off to a slow start, leading just 7-4 at the end of the first quarter.

However, they turned it up a notch in the second quarter to snatch a 25-5 lead at the half and they were smooth sailing in the second half.

“We didn’t take care of the ball,” said Cherubims coach Maurice Fawkes. “I think we came out with the jitters because we were playing CI, but we settled down and got rid of the jitters. CI just made a run and we couldn’t catch them.”

Khristen Francis scored 14 points and Oatman Lightbourne added 10 in the win. They both had five rebounds, but Lightbourne was credited with nine steals.

Teleos, who won 44-39 in their opener on Monday over the Government High Magicmen, only had one player in double figures, N Ferguson, who scored 12.

Stingrays 35, Cavaliers 23

In a low scoring game that saw both teams finish with just nine points combined at the end of the first quarter, CV Bethel picked it up in the second to double up Mt Carmel 18-9 at the half. Jonaldo Joseph had just eight points to lead the Stingrays. Maricio Hield had a game high 10 in the loss.

Pacers 54, Saints 39

After opening a 26-21 lead at the half, RM Bailey went on a surge in the second half and they put the game out of reach as Eric Pyfrom scored 11 points and six rebounds and Lashad Bastian had 10 points and eight rebounds.

“We’re looking pretty good. We just have to keep playing,” said Pacers’ coach Nigel Ingraham. “Like I told the guys, each day is a different day. That’s why God made each day different. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. That’s why you don’t have to think about what you did Monday on Tuesday. So God is good. We will take it as we get it.”

Chaberto Darling, Jeron Johnson and Ricardo McQueen all had eight points.

Diplomats 58, Falcons 46

Antevin Williams, playing against his former team-mates, scored 18 points with eight rebounds to lead Westminster, who missed the opportunity to advance to the BAISS playoffs after the runs for and against were calculated.

The Diplomats also got 10 points apiece from Antoine Levarity, Wilcevin Eugene and Kamal Murphy after they got off to a slow start, taking a 4-2 lead at the start and extended it to 16-9 at the end of the period and was never in any trouble.

“We could have executed some more, but I think we were a little jittery because we didn’t get to play since the regular season,” said Diplomats’ coach Rodney Curry. “The guys are just trying to get their foot loose.”

For the Falcons, Cameron Chery had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

The tournament is scheduled to continue today with the teams from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.