The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the focus of the marquee matchup in the New Providence Basketball Association men’s feature game on the two opposing big men, Gamaliel Rose and Eugene Bain, nobody paid that much attention on guard Kenneth Pratt.

At the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Wednesday night, Pratt put on a show from the backcourt and Rose held down the fort in the middle as the Patron Regulators went on to pull off an impressive 98-87 victory over Bain and the Mail Boat Cybots. With the win, the Regulators improved to 10-3 for second place in the Vince Ferguson Division. The Cybots are now 4-4 in third place.

The game was played after the opening contest had to go to overtime with the Y-Care Wreckers prevailing with a close 104-96 decision over the Double R Cleaners. The Wreckers pushed their record to 4-5 in third place in the John Archer Division with the Cleaners dropping to 1-9 for fifth place.

Regulators 98, Cybots 87

After watching the Mail Boat open a 12-2 lead on a dunk from Bain, Patron rebounded and managed to cut the deficit to 16-9 at the end of the period. After tying the score at 23 midway in the second quarter, the Regulators pulled away for a 38-35 margin at the break.

Then in the third quarter, Pratt, Deven Johnson and Cruz Simon went on a scoring spree. They got a buzzer beating three-pointer from Pratt to extend their lead to 68-62 at the final break.

The Regulators outscored the Cybots 30-25 in the fourth quarter to pull off the win.

“Our coach told us to go out there, play hard and finish off strong and have some fun doing it,” Pratt said. “Gamaliel is probably the best player in the country right now, but he told me ‘get ready to get the ball.’ When I got it, I just decided to go out there and do whatever I could. But we played very well together as a team.”

Pratt, in 25 minutes and 25 seconds, came off the bench and ignited their rally with 25 points, nine rebounds, two steals and an assist. Simon had 18 points, Deven Johnson 13 points, Carlos Thompson 10 points and 11 rebounds and Rose, in 25 minutes, added seven points with nine rebounds, four assists, three block shots and two assists off the bench.

“I felt we started rushing the ball and we fell into Cybots hands, but once we settled down, we turned things around,” said Regulators’ coach Don ‘Robo Cop’ Dorsette. “We’re the rookie team, but a lot of teams are gunning for us, so that’s a lot of initiative for us to play the way we play.

“Even though we fell behind at a certain point in the game, I think we have sufficient veterans on the team to help us get back in gear. We played a very good team against a very good player in Eugene (Bain), who I call my son, but we played hard enough and was able to pull it off.”

Bain, who played 37 minutes, pumped in a game high 34 points with 12 rebounds, five steals and three assists to lead the Mail Boat, coached by Wayde Watson. “Brian Bain and Ernest Saunders both had 11 points, Delvonne Duncombe had 10 points with five rebounds and four assists and Jeremy Hutchinson chipped in with seven points and 11 rebounds.

“They are my boys (Regulators). I grew up with them,” said Eugene Bain. “I just had to come out and play ball and to put my team in a position to win. They just came hungry and we let it get away from us. Our defence was just a little weak and they capitalised on our mistakes.”

Despite the loss, Bain promised that if they end up meeting each other in the playoffs, the fans can expect a much better outcome.

Wreckers 104, Cleaners 96

With time running out, Emeka Watson missed an opportunity to win the game for the Wreckers on a three-point attempt. Tied at 89 at the end of regulation, Watson exploded for nine points as they pulled away from Double R Cleaners to secure the win.

Watson, playing the entire 45 minutes, finished with 22 points, 20 rebounds and four steals. Kevin Armstrong, however, led the attack with 23 points and six rebounds. Tavares Roker had 12 points, six assists and four rebounds, Kessi Micial added 11 points and 18 rebounds and Lorenzo Carter helped out with nine points and 14 rebounds.

“Once they went down a man, I told my quickest guard that wherever the ball goes, we have to double it up and that paid dividends for us after that,” said Y-Care’s coach Donnie Culmer. “We were having problems getting the guys out to practice and we have about three players hurt, so we just have to weather the storm and let the chips fall where they may because on any given day, anyone can win in this league.”

For the Double R Services, Lenny Oscar scored a game high 29 points with nine rebounds and four assists, Rashad Woodside had 17 points and seven rebounds, Jamarise King had 16 points and seven rebounds and Dax Evans added 10 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Tonight’s schedule

7:30pm - Island Luck Pros vs College of the Bahamas Caribs

9pm - Pyramid Food Rockets vs Real Deal Shockers

Saturday

7:30pm - Rhythm Rebels vs Y-Care Wreckers

9pm - Double R Services Cleaners vs PJ’s Stingers