The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the action starts to heat up in the 30th Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, there are two things that the fans usually look forward to - playing in the mystique of the AF Adderley Gym and watching the Freeport teams in action.

The Grand Bahama teams are just as excited about their appearances in the week-long double elimination tournament.

Coming in as the new champions of the Grand Bahama High School champions, St George’s Jaguars’ coach Darrel Sears said they have a lot of pressure playing in the tournament that is scheduled to wrap up Monday night when the championship game is played at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.

“A lot of our guys have never played in Hugh Campbell and they definitely did not play in this gym,” said Sears of the newly refurbished AF Adderley Gym.

“The last time I was here was in 2003. This is an exciting place. I’m so glad that they have brought this back. We had a lot of good memories in here and we had some bad ones too. But I love being back here. If we can continue to play the way we have been doing, we will be fine.”

Sears, one of the few coaches out of Grand Bahama who has not tasted the thrill of victory as champions of the prestigious tournament, said he’s hoping that their opening statement with their 63-27 rout over Gateway Academy from Bimini will serve as the impetus for them to go all the way this time around.

Antwon Bevans led their attack with a game high 14 points. Keno Russell Jr had 11 and Kendrick Davis chipped in with 10.

For Norris Bain, no one has won more titles than he did with the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons. His six titles is just one ahead of Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, who has captured five with the CI Gibson Rattlers.

“Experience teaches that it’s important to win your first game because when you win, you survive and move on,” said Bain after their 64-52 decision over the Westminster Diplomats in their opener on Wednesday. “So important to win your first game.”

And Bain said there’s no better place to do it than in the famed AF Adderley Gym.

“I really enjoy being back in here for the early games,” Bain said. “It brings back a lot of memories. Some good, some bad. Nevertheless, it brings back a lot of memories.

“Secondly, not only being back here brings back some memories, but the teams here, I haven’t seen all of them, but I’ve seen the teams from Grand Bahama and all the teams have been close. I’ve seen some of the teams from New Providence, so I expect the tournament this year to be a very exciting one.”

Bain’s Falcons were led by Robert Joseph with a game high 22 points. Melvin Elsie chipped in with 18.

Having done it as a player with the Hawksbill High Hawks when they three-peated from 1992-1994 under coach Jimmy Clarke, Quinton ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, who went on to win the most valuable player award in ‘94, is hoping that he too can win a title as a coach with the Eight Mile Rock Bluejays.

On Wednesday, the Bluejays got started with a 50-36 decision over their Grand Bahama rivals Sunland Lutheran as Darryl Butler scored 13 points and Snardo McIntosh contributed 10 in the win.

“It was a beautiful thing. I saw a lot of my high school friends and we were able to reminisce about the good old days in this gym,” Hall said. “It brought back a lot of good memories as a child. You can’t replace that.”

As the runners-up to the Jaguars in the Grand Bahama championship, Hall said if his Bluejays can play with the same type of intensity that they did in their opener, they could definitely be a contender for the title Monday night.