The Tribune

IT was payback time for the Eagles Nest as they avenged a double whammy from Macedonia Baptist to start the Baptist Sports Council’s 2014 Basketball Classic at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday.

Last year, Macedonia clinched both the 15-and-under and 19-and-under titles with best-of-three series victories over Eagles Nest. On Saturday, as the new season began, it was Eagles Nest who got the early bragging rights in a double overtime drama.

Immediately after an opening ceremony in which Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller delivered the keynote address during a brief opening ceremony, the Eagles Nest nipped Macedonia 28-27 to hand the 15-and-under defending champions a loss.

If that wasn’t enough, coach Sterling Pratt had his Eagles Nest flying high as their 19-and-under runners-up came right back and held off the defending champions Macedonia another loss, 50-47, in overtime as well.

Macedonia men, however, made up for their junior teams by winning a men’s double header, 30-19, over Church of the Nazarene and 43-36 over Evangelistic Centre.

In other games played, St John’s def. Cousin McPhee 15-11 (15), Mission Baptist def. St. John’s 28-19 (19), Hope Centre def. Cousin McPhee 39-29 (M), Cousin McPhee def. BIBA 39-36 (M) and Mt. Tabor def. First Baptist 82-54 (M).

Before the games got started, the St John’s Baptist Cathedral marching band serenaded the crowd with a few selections.

Eagles Nest 28,

Macedonia 27 (15)

Alton Burrows hit the game-winning basket in the extra three minutes as the Eagles Nest broke a 20-20 tie at the end of regulation for the win. Burrows finished with 12 and Stephen Johnson led the way with 10. Deangelo Jolly had a game high 13 and Troy Marshall added nine in the loss.

Eagles Nest 50,

Macedonia 47 (19)

Tario McKenzie hit the game-winning free throw in the extra three minutes as the Eagles Nest pulled off another stunner after they ended up tied 44-44 at the end of regulation. McKenzie finished with just four. Ken Lockhart led with 14. Lerecus Armbrister had a game high 16 and Game Atilus added five.

Hope Centre 39,

Cousin McPhee 29 (M)

Keno Archer scored 10 points, Roney Cedot had eight and Lionel Tador six as the Hope Centre won their season opener. Patrick Leadon and Shaquille Bain both had 11 in the loss.

Macedonia 30,

Church of Nazarene 19 (M)

Delano Knowles scored eight and both Kyle Turnquest and Patrick Brice had seven in the win for Macedonia. Perry Lubin had six in the loss.

Cousin McPhee 39,

BIBA 36 (M)

Patrick Leadon came up with 12 and Buster Panza added six as Cousin McPhee rebounded to split a double header. Tevin Spence scored 12 points and Tino Thurston added six in a losing effort.

Mt. Tabor 82,

First Baptist 82-54 (M)

Dominique Beadle scored 16, Percy Rolle had 13, Neil Sands had 11 and Ashley Ranger, Antonio Hanna and Dario Thompson all had eight, while Zanvaughn Beckford chipped in with seven in Mt Tabor’s win. Rashad Stubbs scored a game high 21 and Don Clarke added nine in the loss.

Macedonia 43,

Evangelistic Centre 36 (M)

Christopher Gaitor and Delano Knowles both scored six to carry Macedonia to another men’s victory. Anton Marshall had 12 and both Joey Marshall and Deangelo Griffin had three in the loss.

Saturday, March 8

Court One

10am - Mission Baptist vs

Cousin McPhee (15)

11am - Mission Baptist vs

Ebenezer (19)

Noon - BIBA vs Mt Carey (19)

1pm - BIBA vs First Baptist (M)

2pm - Mt Carey vs

Hope Centre (M)

Court Two

10am - Eagles Nest vs

St John’s (15)

11am - Eagles Nest vs

St John’s (19)

Noon - Eagles Nest vs

Mt Tabor (M)

1pm - Evangelistic Centre vs

Church of Nazerene (M)

2pm - Men of Vision vs

St John’s (M)