The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE backcourt duo of Cornelius Clyde and Makarios Russell took over down the stretch as the undefeated St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine held off a strong challenge from the Aquinas College Aces.

Clyde converted a three-point play with just 41.8 seconds left on the clock to put the Big Red Machine up for good 39-38 before Russell hit a pair of free throws and added a layup to seal the 43-36 victory.

The win enabled SAC to take a 1-0 lead in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ junior boys best-of-three championship series slated to continue Wednesday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

“They have to learn to play defence. Thy shot three shots outside. That’s why we packed it in,” said Big Red Machine’s coach John Todd on their performance. “Their defence didn’t do anything. They shot the ball from the outside, so we just packed it in.”

Todd said they will be back with the same mindset and that is to win when they play game two.

Southpaw Russell was simply unstoppable as he darted inside the Aces’ defence for a game high 21 points. Joel Johnson scored eight and Clyde finished with seven.

For Aquinas College, who continue to improve over the past three years to finally make it to the final, Tahj Moss led the attack with 13 points, John Nixon scored 10 and Lynden Gibson added nine.

After falling behind 20-18 at the half, the Aces rallied to take a 26-21 lead and they held onto a 33-28 margin at the final break.

But in the fourth, Aquinas College watched as SAC stormed back and eventually took control. “We turned the ball over too much down the stretch,” said Aces’ coach Craig ‘Rambo’ Smith.

“We had too many turnovers and we shot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t protect the ball. But we have to give it to SAC. They are a relentless team. They are not going to roll over and play dead.”

Smith admitted that if they have any chance of winning, they will have to find a way to stop the Big Red Machine’s guards. “I wish I could go on the court and stop them myself,” he said. “We have to find a way to stop them.”