The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LIVINGSTON Munnings and Michael Bain went out on a scoring spree as the New Providence Basketball Association’s All-Star Classic turned out to be one for the ages on Friday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

Munnings, a late replacement from the Real Deal Shockers, exploded for a career high 40 points and 18 rebounds to pace the Vince Ferguson team to a 128-127 shootout.

Bain, representing the Commonwealth Bank Giants, matched the game high honors with 240 points for the John Archer Division and could have added as they had possession of the ball when the game was halted with just one minute and six seconds left on the clock,

Apparently, referee Mikhalo Strachan refused to continue calling after he indicated that he was threatened by the fans under the John Archer’s basket.

The game had gone into overtime after the other referee Quinton Charlton called goal tending on a buzzer beating attempted basket by John Archer’s Randy Williams of the PJ’s Stingers on a block by Munnings.

That resulted in the score evened at 118-118 to force the extra five minutes.

The night also included the skills challenge, won by Kamal Murphy of the Shockers;the three-point shooting contest by Quentin Demeritte of the Giants and the slam dunk by Brian Jennings of the College of the Bahamas Caribs.

NPBA president Eugene Horton said it was a successful night, despite the fact that the game itself didn’t complete the final minute.

“The players were looking forward to it for weeks, now I’m glad that we got it over with,” Horton said.

“We are now going to finish of the (regular) season, Hopefully we can get in all of the games next week before they close down the gym for Hugh Campbell.

“When they closed it down, wee will move over to DW Davis Gymnasium and play a couple nights there before we take a break to watch the remainder of Hugh Campbell and then we will have two weeks to complete the (regular) season and get ready for the playoffs.”

Here’s a summary of the All-Star game

Vince Ferguson 128, John Archer 127: While Munnings carried the Vince Ferguson team for most of the game, his Mail Boat team mate Eugene Bain took them through in the overtime.

Bain, who finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds, opening up with a three-pointer for a 122-119 lead and he ended it with a pair of free throws for a 128-125 advantage with just over one minute left to play.

However, it was Munnings, who connected on 17-for-27 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line, said it was good to play on the winning team, but he noted that they worked hard for the victory.

“I was surprised,” said Munnings of his stunning performance. “The other team came out to play hard, but we wanted this win, so I did what I had to do to get us the win.”

Munnings and Bain provided a 1-2 punch that was virtually unstoppable. While Munnings did most of his dame on the inside, Bain was 13-for-27 from the field, 4-for-11 from the foul line and 4-for-11 from the three-point line.

What the pair didn’t do, three other players helped out on double figures as Shockers’ Floyd Armbrister added 17 points; Tevin Hudson of the Pirates had 11 points with seven assists and four rebounds and Justin Munroe from COB chipped in with 10 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds.

The game was tied 24 at the end of the first quarter, but it was 58-55 in favor of the John Archer team at the half. The Vince Ferguson went up 91-81 after the third, but john Archer bounced back for 119-119 tie at the end of regulation.

Mail Boat’s Wayde Watson, who coached the Vince Ferguson, felt that the game should not have gone to the extra period. But he was glad that they kept their composure and still managed to hold on for the in.

“I thought it was a pretty good game. It was very entertaining,” Watson said. “I thought we should have won it in regulation, but it was a rookie call and we had to hold on in overtime.

“This was what the fans wanted to see. I was disappointed that it ended the way it did, but I still think the fans got their money’s worth and the players got to fellowship with each other.”

The game saw Michael Bain got started on a torrid pace, canning 17 points in the first quarter for John Archer team. He was 17-for-25 from the field, 1-for-5 from three-point and 5-for-8 from the foul line for his 40 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals to pace the John Archer in the loss.

“I thought it was a well played game. The other guys had a little bit of fun in the first half, but everyone on our side came out in the second half,” Bain said. “We all wanted to win.

“So it was totally unexpected and probably unprofessional too when the game decided that he wasn’t going to finish calling the game. But it is what it is. We still managed to put on a show for the fans, so the night was still a success.”

Joining Bain in double figures for the John Archer team were Athletico Bahamas’ Dylan Musgrove with 26 points, five rebounds and three steals; PJ Stingers’ Devon Ferguson with 17 points and eight rebounds; Giants’ Jeffery Henfield with 15 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds and Randy Williams contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.