By BRENT STUBBS
Senior Sports Reporter
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins found a way to hold off the defending champions, CI Gibson Rattlers, to snatch game one of their Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (GSSSA) best-of-three senior boys basketball championship series last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
After losing to the Rattlers in the last two championships, the Mystic Marlins were able to secure a 60-57 triumph and move one game closer to finally getting the monkey of their back as they look forward to trying to clinch the title when they play game two tonight.
Also yesterday, Doris Johnson’s senior girls took the initial lead as they prepare the ground for a double dose of championship success by upsetting the defending champions, CR Walker Knights, with a 43-41 win, while the DW Davis Pitbulls took a 1-0 lead in their junior boys series with a 33-30 win over the CH Reeves Raptors and the HO Nash Lions roared past the SC McPherson Sharks 30-22.
Mystic Marlins 60
Rattlers 57
Trae Davis canned 26 points. including three free throws in the final minute to break a 57-57 tie to enable Doris Johnson to go ahead for good.
CI Gibson had two chances in the final seconds, but Deangelo Mackey missed a pair of three-point attempts in the heartbreaking loss.
“We played sluggish, but I think it’s because of the fact that we had 12 new guys out there,” said Mystic Marlins’ coach Denycko Bowles.
“We started out with some intensity at the beginning of the game. As the game went on, we dropped it a little. But it took us a little while to get back into the flow of the game.
“Then in the fourth quarter, we had a comfortable lead and we lost our composure and CI Gibson got back into the game. My guys just need to stay focused and aggressive for four quarters. Once we do that, I think we will be very good. We have to do a better job defensively.”
The Rattlers, coached by Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, drew first blood as they surged ahead 16-11 at the end of the first quarter and they built on that for a 32-27 margin at the half. But the second half belonged to the Mystic Marlins, who bounced back to take a 46-38 lead at the end of the third.
Doris Johnson opened the fourth quarter by taking advantage of the lack of a shot clock as they worked the ball around, cutting down the time. However, they got a little careless and CI Gibson were able to get a couple of turnovers and steals that enabled them to trim a double digit deficit to a single figure.
And as the Rattlers slowly got back into the game, thanks to the outside shooting of Stephon Johnson and Charles Cooper, they had the final two shots to win the game. But Mackey’s attempts fell short as the Mystic Marlins went on to celebrate.
“We had a good effort, but we just fell short,” Mackey said. “I think I tried too hard to make my shots down the stretch. We just have to be ready to bounce back tomorrow.”
While Davis was the leading scorer for Doris Johnson, Gailyn Young had 15 points and Lathaniel Bastian 11 in the win. Bradley Alitidor and D’Angelo Mackey had 14 and 13 respectively for CI Gibson. Stephon Johnson was also in double figures with 11 and Charles Cooper chipped in with nine.
Mystic Marlins 43
Knights 41
Briontae Riley scored a game high 16 points and Antenique Young had 15 to provide a one-two punch for Doris Johnson as they polished off CR Walker. Tanae Bowleg helped out with eight.
The Mystic Marlins opened a 13-4 first quarter lead that they extended to 20-14 at the half. But the Knights came back in the second half, cutting the deficit to 29-28 at the end of the third quarter and the two battled it out down the stretch in the fourth.
Jamaliah Deveaux had 12 points and both Tercel Rolle and Antonya Fertil added eight in a losing effort.
Pitbulls 33
Raptors 30
Adam Augustine scored seven points, Lavardo Dean had six and Darryo Saunders and Chad Smith contributed four apiece for DW Davis as they held on for a close win.
Cordero Thompson scored six, Miles Valcin had five and James Augustin had four in the loss for CH Reeves, who trailed from start to finish.
The Pitbulls led 9-4 after the first quarter and posted a 14-9 lead at the half. They opened a 25-19 lead at the end of the third and the Raptors made a gallant effort in the fourth to close the gap.
Lions 30
Sharks 22
Laquan Sands scored 15 points and Adalin Tucker had eight as HO Nash began their quest for another junior girls title.
They made it look so easy by going up 7-4 in the first quarter as Sands came up with six. By half time, they increased their lead to 17-8, thanks to five points from Tucker. The duo continued their onslaught in the second half as they coasted to victory.
Midelle Butler had 10 and D’Stante Cooper added four in the loss for SC McPherson.
Game two in the series will be played today, starting with the junior girls at 4 pm.
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