The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ST George’s Jaguars may not be having the type of season that coach Darrel Sears anticipated in the Grand Bahama High School basketball league. But he’s hoping that they can turn things around by competing in the annual Providence Basketball Club’s Holiday Classic at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium this week.

On day two of the tournament yesterday, the Jaguars pulled off their third consecutive game as they routed the North Andros Seminoles 66-32. The win came after St George’s won 55-39 over the CV Bethel Stingrays and Agape out of Abaco 38-27, both on Saturday.

In other games played over the first two days, host CI Gibson Rattlers knocked off the RM Bailey Pacers and Abaco Central by the identical scores of 63-34.

The CC Sweeting Cobras won 49-38 over the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves and 55-33 over Zion Academy. Westminster Diplomats prevailed 54-46 over Abaco Central, Teleos Cherubims knocked off South Andros 73-33, Aquinas Aces won 40-35 over South Andros, the CR Walker Knights polished off North Andros 52-37, but lost 45-39 to Agape. St John’s Giants def. Central Eleuthera 36-29 and 60-51 over Zion Academy, Queen’s College Comets def. Temple Christian Suns 36-2, Anatol def. Central Eleuthera 33-30, South Andros def. Temple Christian 48-41 and Agape won 45-39 over CR Walker.

Results of the games played in last night’s evening session were unavailable up to press time. The tournament is scheduled to resume 9am today.

• Here’s a summary of some of the games played so far:

Jaguars 66, Seminoles 33

This was over from it got started as St George’s jumped out to a comfortable 11-0 lead in the first quarter before South Andros finally got into a rhythm and hit their first two baskets. However, they didn’t have the size to contain with the Jaguars, who simply tore them apart on the inside, much to the delight of coach Sears.

“We played a well coached Andros team in my good friend Danny (Pratt). He always has his team playing hard,” Sears said. “We just overwhelmed them a bit. We had a little more talent than they did. But we came to this tournament to get better, having had some struggles in Grand Bahama and I think we achieved that a little bit so far.

“The guys are becoming a little unselfish, more team oriented and that was what we wanted. We wanted to get a different pace with the guys here in New Providence because they play that fast tempo, which should get us ready for Hugh Campbell. So I feel proud of our guys. We still have some more work to do, but from where we were about a month ago at 9-10, I’m pleased.”

Franklyn Petion was unstoppable for St George’s, canning a game high 17 points in the win. He was joined by Shakeel Butters with 11 and Howard Hinzey with nine. Jereak Moss scored 11 in a losing effort.

Giants 60, Zion Academy 51

Also staying undefeated through their first two games of the tournament, St John’s slowly pulled away from Zion Academy as they had three players in double figures. Michael Wallace produced a game high 22 points, Bryan Clarke contributed 16 and Ayinde Maynard added 14.

“A win is a win so I will take it, but I wasn’t that impressed with the way my guys played,” said St John’s coach Leonardo Forbes. “We missed a lot of easy lay-ups and free throws. But besides that, we played really well. Two of my best players are injured, so we have some guys who are using some players who are just in grade nine for their development, so anything is possible for us.”

Agape 45, Knights 39

Malik Penn came up with nine of his game high 17 points in the fourth quarter as Abaco held off a late surge by CR Walker. James Vil finished with 11 and Venson Ferguson chipped in with 10 in the win.

Carmardo Seymour and Keanu Rolle scored 12 and 11 points respectively in a losing effort.

Giants 36, Explorers 29

Bryan Clarke scored 12 points and Michael Wallace added seven as St John’s got their first win in the tournament. Anderias Black had 11 in a losing effort for Central Eleuthera.

Cobras 55, Zion Academy 33

Silvester Moss and Corey Sands led a 1-2 punch for CC Sweeting as they opened a 12-6 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 27-15 at the half. Recano Nixon scored 13 in the loss.

Aces 40, South Andros 35

John Nixon scored 14 and Chad Smith had 10 for Aquinas College as they held off South Andros, who got nine apiece from Keito Robinson, Dave Pratt and Brendon Rolle.

Cherubims 73, South Andros 33

Bertum Minns scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half and Gregory Seymour took over the second half with 17 of his 19 for Teleos Academy in their win. Keito Robinson scored 15 in a losing effort for South Andros.

Cobras 49, Timberwolves 38

Corey Sands scored 13 points and Jamal Simms had 11 as CC Sweeting won again. Jarad Richardson had 10 in a losing effort for Anatol Rodgers.

Diplomats 54, Abaco Central 46

Jermaine Storr came up with 20 points to lead Westminster to victory. However, it was Bradley Alidor who had a game high 24 in a losing effort for Abaco Central.

Rattlers 63, Pacers 34

Shakwon Lewis came up with a game high 18 points to pace the host CI Gibson to their opening victory. Samuel Dean had 10 in a losing effort for RM Bailey.

Jaguars 55: Stingrays 39

Franklyn Petion got off to a great start to lead St George’s to their first victory of the tournament with a game high 17 points. T’Shad Cornish had eight in a losing effort for CV Bethel.