The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

In an explosive display of their offensive prowess, the Johnson’s Lady Truckers coasted into the driver’s seat of the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association’s best-of-five championship series with an impressive 82-68 victory over the Super Value Cybot Queens at the DW Davis Gymnasium last night.

The Truckers jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead before the Cybot Queens finally got on the scoreboard on a driving layup from Tracey Lewis. But after coasting to a 26-6 margin at the end of the first quarter, the Truckers never looked back as they took a commanding 2-1 lead in the series that will now take a break until after the Easter holiday weekend.

Game four is set for 8pm Tuesday and with about a week’s break before they resume the series, coach Penial Bain said he’s confident that they can come back and wrap up the series and celebrate winning their fifth championship crown in the league.

“Defensively we ran a 2-3 defence and it startled their offence and that helped us to get some easy baskets on the other end of the court,’ Bain said. “We just have to clean up our passes and take a few better shots. If we can do that when we come back from the break, we can easily win the title.”

Suzette McKenzie, connecting on 7-of-10 from behind the three-point arch, led the Truckers with a game high 19 points and five rebounds. Janice Williams, who powered her way inside on a number of easy attacks to the basket, finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and three block shots.

What the duo didn’t do, Latoya Rolle made up with 12 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals and Glenda Gilcud contributed another 12 points with six assists.

Super Value didn’t have to search too deep to determine what happened in last night’s game. They didn’t have an answer for McKenzie, who connected on five-of-seven treys in the first half for 14 points, while Latoya Rolle added 10. Peterson and Lewis both had five. Lewis finished with a game high 26 points and Peterson had 23 as they provided a 1-2 punch with 11 and nine rebounds respectively.

Tarjanae Thurston was the only other player in an offensive mood as she added five points and six rebounds.

The Cybot Queens, who trailed 42-18 at the half, managed to turn things around in the second half. They trailed 62-29 at the end of the third and in the fourth quarter, made a final surge at the end of the game. However, it was a little too late. It was the type of energy that they needed at the start.

But coach Wayde Watson said it was all about teaching his players a lesson.

“Some of the starting players decided to take some time off, so I went with who came out to practice,” said Watson, trying to explain what went wrong in their sluggish first quarter. “I will call practice tomorrow (today) and whoever shows up will play in the next game.”