The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The New Providence Basketball Association resumed its regular season on Monday night after taking a break for the Christmas holiday. The Commonwealth Bank Giants pulled off a rout and the Pyramid Food Rockets got by in a squeaker at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

In the feature game, the Giants pounded the PJ’s Stingers 90-74, while the the Rockets held off the College of the Bahamas Caribs 77-74 in the opening match.

• Here’s a summary of the double header:

Giants 90, Stingers 74

After holding a close 22-16 margin at the end of the first quarter, Commonwealth Bank used a 21-9 spurt in the second quarter to take a 43-25 advantage at the half and they never looked back. PJ’s did manage to make a comeback in the second half, but they were just too far behind to pull it off.

At one point in the third quarter, the Giants had mounted as much as a 64-38 lead and down the stretch they held on as Michael Bain completed a three-point play and Kevin Hinsey converted a pair of free throws just before Tevin Hudson came up with a three-point play with 3.5 seconds to trim the Stingers’ deficit to 72-50 at the end of the final break.

In the fourth quarter, PJ’s came within 11 (85-74) with 1:30 remaining on Hudson’s three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Batchlette LaFleur. But once again, Bain came through with a pair of free throws and a lay-up in the final 1:10 to push the Giants up 89-74 as they held on for the win.

“We knew that we had to play the Stingers coming out of the break, so we had to be prepared and be ready. So we really didn’t take a break over Christmas. We had to keep the guys motivated because it’s a young crew,” said Giants’ coach Perry Thompson. “They responded to practice and it showed in our game out here on the floor.”

Thompson, who was assisted by his son, Perry Jr, said although they were short-handed with their big men with Denykco Bowles still nursing an injury and they didn’t have Robson Memnon, they knew that because of their discipline to play the game for what it’s worth, they managed to easily pull it off.

Bain finished with a game high 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes and 26 seconds on the floor to lead Commonwealth Bank. Mark Hanna had a double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds, Hinsey had 12 points and four rebounds, Samuel Johnson added nine points and six rebounds, Lyndrick Storr had eight points and five rebounds and Jeffrey Henfield chipped in with seven points and 13 rebounds.

Able Joseph also had a double-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds and six assists to pace PJ’s. Devon Ferguson had 14 points, LaFleur had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists and Hudson helped out with 10 points.

Rockets 77, Caribs 74

Christoff Stuart hit a free throw with 1:32 to give the Pyramid Food a 77-68 lead, the College of the Bahamas went on a 6-0 spurt as A Sands scored two free throws and Reuben Goodman canned a charity shot and a three-pointer to trim down to the final margin.

With less than six seconds left, Goodman missed two free throws and an attempt at a buzzer beating three-pointer.

David Taylor led the Rockets with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists and Rashad McKenzie had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Stuart had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Barry Carter helped out with seven points and seven rebounds.

Goodman scored a game high 21 points with eight rebounds to pace the Caribs in a losing effort. Alvano Laing had 12 points and 15 rebounds, Charles Taylor had 11 points and six rebounds and Glen Davis added 10 points.