The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHAKWON Lewis and Michael Sweeting provided a 1-2 punch in the backcourt that helped the CI Gibson Rattlers to repeat as back-to-back champions of their Providence Basketball Club’s 2015 Holiday Classic.

The two 18-year-old players shared the spotlight at the end of the four-day tournament as they were named the most outstanding player in the round robin and the championship respectively at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

Lewis, a 12th grader, was named the top scorer with a total of 68 points, was the most offensive player and was on the first All Tournament team as he went on to secure the tournament MVP award.

“I’m the captain, so the captain has to steer the ship and lead the crew. I had to take over the game,” said Lewis of his performance, including a game high 29 points, eight of which came in the extra four minutes as CI Gibson pulled off a 76-74 victory in overtime for the title over the CC Sweeting Cobras.

Although it was a keenly contested matchup that never saw any of the teams take more than a 10-point lead, Lewis said he wasn’t concerned at all about whether or not they would prevail.

“Our coach told us to never give up the fight, put God first in whatever we do and we can pull it off,” Lewis said. “It’s a great feeling to do it again. We had a great team last year, but this team is more together, so we are pretty good this year.”

Sweeting, an 11th grader in his second appearance on the team, made his contribution with a couple of key baskets in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line as he finished with 27 points.

For his efforts, Sweeting was named the championship game MVP and he was also selected to the first All-Tournament team. “The performance was very good. We fought hard because we really wanted to win the game,” he said. “I missed a couple of free throws, but my coach told me not to worry about it. I recovered and got the tip in to send the game into overtime.”

• Here’s a look at the tournament’s individual awards:

Rebounding champion - Cormardo Seymour, CR Walker, total of 50

Assists champion - Carlos Smith, St. George’s High, total of 14

Steals champion - Bertrum Minns, Teleos Academy, total of 36

Blocks champion - Anderias Black, Central Eleuthera High, total of 20

Top scorer - Shakwon Lewis, CI Gibson, total of 68

Tournament MVP - Shakwon Lewis, CI Gibson

1st All-Tournament

Team

Anderias Black, Central Eleuthera, best defensive player; Shakwon Lewis, CI Gibson, best offensive player; Franklyn Petion, St George’s; Michael Sweeting, CI Gibson; Ira Farrington, CI Gibson; Bertrum Minns, Teleos Academy; Andrew Smith, CR Walker; Cormardo Seymour, CR Walker and Jermaine Bethel, Westminster College.

2nd All-Tournament

Team

Venson Ferguson, Agape; Henrick Sands, Zion Academy; Asha Scavalla, Zion Academy; Dominic Bridgewater, Anatol Rodgers High; Jarad Richardson, Anatol Rodgers High; Bradley Attidor, Abaco Central High; Keito Richardson, South Andros High; Jamal Simon, CC Sweeting; Corey Wallace, Temple Christian and Braithe Ferguson, CI Gibson.

Championship MVP - Michael Sweeting.