The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior SportsReporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was Cybots Appreciation Night so head coach Wayde Watson said the best way for his teams to show their gratitude to their fans was to win their New Providence Basketball Association-New Providence Women’s Basketball Association double header.

The NPBA and the NPWBA reunited for the first time Saturday night since they parted ways in 2003 and they did it by hosting the Cybots Fans Appreciation Night with games at the AF Adderley and DW Davis Gymnasiums.

At the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Super Value Cybots Queens held off the Bommer G Operators 64-55 in the ladies’ opener and the Mailboat Cybots routed Y-Care Wreckers 80-58 in the men’s feature contest.

Over at the DW Davis Gymnasium, the Career Builders Lady Cheetahs nipped the Johnson Lady Truckers 69-67 in the ladies’ opener and the Patron Regulators knocked off the PJ Stingers 91-86 in the men’s nightcap.

“We had a pretty good group of our fans on hand, some of whom would come out to watch the ladies’ team, but they also got to see the men’s team play and some of the men’s fans got to see our ladies play,” Watson said.

“So we were able to show them our appreciation by giving them some treats and drinks and most importantly a victory in the two games. So it really turned out to be a good night for the Cybots basketball club.”

For coach Donnie Culmer, while he came out on the losing end in both games, he admitted that there is still a lot of room for improvement for the Lady Operators and the Wreckers.

Cybots Queens 64, Lady Operators 55

It’s not always easy when you have to play against your former team. Malesha Petterson and Vernisha Moss found that out the hard way as the two former Bommer Gee players came up big for their new teams.

Petterson scored 22 points with five rebounds in 33 minutes and 59 seconds. Vernisha Moss had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Reliable Taniel Poitier, who welcomed the additional help, added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“I was excited to play against them. The game was intense, but I was looking for the win,” Petterson said. “When I came here, my new team welcomed me with open arms, so I was excited and happy to play with them. I was comfortable right away.”

The win pushed the Cybots Queens into second at 3-1, joining the Lady Cheetahs, who lead the league. As a result of their loss, the Lady Operators fell to third at 2-2, the same record as the Lady Truckers.

Watson said the Cybots Queens showed what it means to play team basketball defensively and offensively and they are now beginning to trust themselves and believe in the system that he is implementing with the addition of Petterson and Moss.

“We could definitely be the team to watch in the playoffs,” Watson said.

Sharell Cash had 15 points and five rebounds, Chrishanda Rahming had 14 points and nine rebounds and Antenique Young added 13 points. Keica Smith had just five points, but pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out five assists, while Alberta Russell didn’t score but had 10 rebounds and four block shots before they both fouled out.

“We fought right down the stretch, but took some bad shots in the last two minutes and we lost it,” Culmer said. “The two players made a difference for them, but we were right there, but just let the game get away from us down the stretch.”

Cybots 80, Wreckers 58

With only six players in uniform, the Mail Boat still managed to sail away from Y-Care, who had one more man out with seven in the game.

Jeremy Hutchinson had 21 points and 17 rebounds, but it was Delano ‘Yao’ Knowles who came off the bench and contributed 15 points, 13 rebounds and five block shots to pace the Cybots.

Delvonne Duncombe had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Lerecus Armbrister had 14 points, three rebounds and two assists and Ernest Saunders had nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Cybots are sitting in third at 8-5 with the Regulators in the Vince Ferguson Division, but the Wreckers dropped to fourth at 4-8 in the John Archer Division.

“They are starting to play together as a team,” coach Watson said. “I believe over the next three weeks, we will really start to develop the way we need to going into the playoffs.”

Randy Williams had 20 points in a losing effort. Anthony Whylly had nine points and nine rebounds, Emeka Watson also had nine points and 14 rebounds, Kessi Micial had six points and nine rebounds, Lorenzo Carter had six points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Leon Bain had five rebounds and six assists.

“Tonight, my guys just didn’t bring their game (to the gym),” coach Culmer said. “They were out partying late the night before and so they really didn’t have it.”

Lady Cheetahs 69, Lady Truckers 67

Linda Pierre canned the game-winning basket with nine seconds left to break a 67-67 tie. The game was tied on a basket from Janice Rolle with 31 seconds on the clock. Glenda Gilcud missed a buzzer-beating jumper that could have tied the game again and force overtime.

Pierre finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, Philicia Kelly had 18 points and nine rebounds, Jurelle Nairn had 15 points and four rebounds, Alyse Dean had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists and Pamela Bethel had eight points and 15 rebounds.

The Lady Cheetahs are still on top of the standings at 3-1, while the Lady Truckers dropped to fourth at 2-2.

Latoya Rolle had 13 points and 12 rebounds, Janice Rolle had 12 points and 20 rebounds and Shantell Rolle 11 points, six assists and four rebounds. Glenda Gilcud had eight points, eight assists and five rebounds, Malinda Bastian had six points and six rebounds and Stacy Horton helped out with six points. Newly acquired Suzette McKenzie had five points and five rebounds.

Regulators 91, Stingers 86

Kenneth Pratt scored 17 points and four steals as Patron improved their second place record in the Vince Ferguson Division to 8-5, identical to the Cybots, whom they have beaten already.

Cruz Simon had 16 points and five steals, Gamalial Rose 15 points and 15 rebounds, Alex Rolle 13 points, six rebounds and four assists and Devon Johnson chipped in with 10 points for the winners.

Able Johnson (six rebounds and five assists) and Batchlette LaFleur (four rebounds and three assists) both had 18 points, Vernon Stubbs had 16 points and six rebounds, Kmsey Sylveste had 11 points and nine rebounds, Devon Ferguson had 10 points and five rebounds and Jervonne Atkins had eight points and four rebounds.

The loss dropped the Stingers to 11-4 as they remain in second place in the John Archer Division.