The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the elimination process is currently underway at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, teams are also jockeying to make a run for a shot at the final four in their bid to get into Monday night’s championship game of the 32nd edition of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.

In what turned out to be the marquee matchup on day four of the week-long double elimination tournament on Thursday, the St George’s Jaguars from Grand Bahama kept their hopes alive as they stunned the highly favoured Noble Preparatory Academy No Bull, 55-52.

The Jaguars stayed unbeaten in their two games, joining the top ranked Tabernacle Baptist Academy Falcons from Grand Bahama and the Eight Mile Rock Bluejays, as well as the defending champions CC Sweeting Cobras, the CI Gibson Rattlers and the RM Bailey Pacers, all of whom are still in contention for the title.

Among those eliminated yesterday are the Aquinas College Aces, Acklins, Clement Howell from the Turks and Caicos and the St John’s Giants. They joined South Andros, who was the first team sent packing on Wednesday night when they lost 52-48 to the CV Bethel Stingrays.

Jaguars 55, NoBull 52

After trailing for the first three quarters, St George’s made a run in the fourth and they were able to hand Noble Preparatory their first loss, forcing them to play to stay alive in one of the late games last night against the Temple Christian Suns.

With about three minutes and 52 seconds left, Travaughn Nicholas kissed a jumper off the glass to cut the Jaguars’ deficit to 40-36 and it started a run over the next minute that pushed them ahead 44-42, thanks to a layup from Franklyn Petion. However, Delroy Grandison drove inside and scooted a lay-up to bring the No Bull back into a 44-44 tie.

But that was short lived as St George’s went on a 10-1 spurt that extended their lead to 54-45 as Perez Marche grabbed an offensive rebound for a tip-in. In the last minute, Noble Preparatory fought to get back into the game. Trevante McPhee got a steal and a layup for a 54-48 deficit and Livingstone Bromwell converted one or two shots from the charity line to make it 54-50.

If there was any chance of the Jaguars holding onto the lead, it came with 6.5 seconds left when Cardo Adderley was fouled and he banged in one of two free throws to seal the deal.

“We have a very inexperienced team, but watching these guys grow up right in front of you is very amazing,” said Jaguars’ head coach Darrel Sears. “Those guys dug deep. They were down. (No Bull’s) No. 95 is a man child (Delroy Grandison). All respect to coach Geno Bullard. They put up a good fight. We happen to win because we dug deep and got some turnovers down the stretch.”

Sears said the win will really boost their confidence as they look ahead to the rest of the tournament.

As they prepared to play their second game later in the night to stay alive, Bullard said they just blew the game. “We didn’t get the loose balls and we made too many turnovers at the end,” he said. “But I’m sure it’s something that we can rebound from and turn things around. Sometimes getting a loss gives your guys a quick attitude adjustment and they know what they are up against and what intensity they have to bring to the game.”

Once they can get over Temple Christian and get back into the hunt, Bullard said if they end up meeting the Jaguars again, they can expect to see the No Bull at its best.

Kendrick Davis led St George’s with 16 points and seven rebounds. Franklyn Petion had 14 points, four rebounds and three steals. Perez Marche ended up with eight points.

Tenerro Ferguson scored a game high 20 points, Livingstone Bromwell had 15 points with five rebounds and Delroy Grandison chipped in with nine points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block shot in a losing effort.

Michael Eldon 57, Acklins 8

Aaron Levarity scored a game high 18 points with 17 rebounds and four steals to lead the winners. Tavarius Marshall had 10 points and four assists and Chavez Fernander contributed eight points with five rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Timeko Campbell had four points and two steals and Daniel Bullard and Johnathan Martin scored the other four points for Acklins as they got eliminated.

Westminster 51,

Aquinas College 41

Sylvester Moss pumped in a game high 31 points with five rebounds and four steals to keep the Diplomats in the tournament. Oral Forbes added six points with three steals and Sarano Coakley had five points. Lee Hong scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and two assists in the loss as the Aces were eliminated. Khristian Martinez had seven points and eight rebounds and three steals and Kriston Clarke added five points.

Blazer Elite 35,

Clement Howell 21

In a matchup of two teams from the Turks and Caicos, Rangel Suero scored a game high 12 points, Javardo Smith had seven points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals and Javanio Fulford added five points with seven rebounds as the Blazer Elite stayed alive.

Brian Hall had seven points and three steals in the loss as Clement Howell got eliminated. Henriks Joseph had five points and Lincoln Outten added three.

Harbour Island 64,

St John’s 49

Trae Davis scored a game high 28 points with six rebounds, six steals and two assists to help Harbour Island stay alive. Jethro Beachmp had 15 points and nine rebounds and Aedin Major added six points.

For St John’s, who got eliminated, Dwight Wheatley scored 25 points with eight rebounds, Aaron Campbell had 13 points, eight steals and six rebounds and Christian Ching had four points.

North Andros 66,

Kingsway Academy 64

Tereak Moss scored a game high 27 points with five rebounds, four assists and four steals to stay alive. Tereaco Moss had 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Ira Farrington helped out with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Emmanuel Butler had 22 points with 18 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two block shots for the Saints as they got eliminated. Charlbuerto Darling had 16 points and Alejandro Morris had 10 points.