The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The SC McPherson Sharks made their Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) junior girls basketball game against the CH Reeves Raptors look so easy at the AF Adderley Gymnasium yesterday.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first minutes of the game, the Sharks exploded as they went on a 25-0 spurt and held onto a 25-2 margin at the half. They eventually went on to blow out the Raptors 31-3 in the season opener for both teams.

“It was good. The same way CH Reeves look, that’s how we looked last year,” said SC McPherson’s coach Chevvy Simmons. “We are bigger this year, but a lot of the girls are just in grade eight so they are more comfortable with the way they should play the game.

“We still have a little more cleaning up on their skills because a lot of them are like core sports athletes. They do track and play volleyball, so I’m still trying to get them into the groove of playing basketball again.”

While Ashanti Smith and Brendesha Darvie scored a free throw apiece to give CH Reeves - coached by Varel Davis - their only lead to start the game, SC McPherson got nine points from Breanna Dean, eight from Michelle Butler and four each from Branika Alexis and D’Stante Cooper.

The Sharks had extended their lead to 31-2 before the Raptors got their final point on another free throw, this time from Anthonique Smith. But it was definitely too late for them to get back into the game.

Butler went on to finish the game with 12 points, Dean contributed nine and Alexis had six.

CH Reeves avoided losing twice in one day to SC McPherson as the Raptors’ junior boys beat the Sharks 51-34 and in the other game played, the DW Davis Pitbulls knocked off the AF Adderley Fighting Tigers 47-32.

The GSSSA is scheduled to continue its regular season tonight when the senior girls and boys are slated to be in action at AF Adderley, DW Davis and CI Gibson, starting at 4pm.