The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS they prepare to add the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic title to their first Government Secondary Schools Sports Association senior boys’ basketball crown, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins were invited to church where they were honoured for their performance.

On Sunday, the team attended Church of God of Prophecy on Wulff Road where they were recognised by the host pastor Andrew Brown, who delivered a sterling message to the team.

The event, held in conjunction with their youth anniversary, was organised by Anishka Bain-Russell, the youth director. Head coach Denykco Bowles said they were appreciative of the gesture by the church, which has adopted their team. “We just want to thank them for everything that they did. They have really taken us on as their team and they showed us a lot of love and affection.”

During the service as the team was recognised, they were showered with gifts and feted afterwards.

The service was just one of the many celebrations being planned for the Mystic Marlins, who swept the CI Gibson Rattlers in two straight games to secure the GSSSA title two weeks ago.

But Bowles said they are holding off any official team celebrations until after they’ve completed the biggest task of all, winning the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic which began last night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

The Mystic Marlins are stacked in pool one with Grand Bahama’s Tabernacle Falcons, the most successful team in the 33-year history of the Hugh Campbell and the Queen’s College Comets, a perennial threat out of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools.

After resting up and watching the other teams play in the first three days, the Mystic Marlins will get their first taste of competition 2pm Thursday when they take on the winner of the tournament’s first game between the Westminster Diplomats and St Anne’s Blue Waves.

The wait, according to Bowles, should work in their favour as he had some players who participated for Doris Johnson during the GSSSA Track and Field Championships last week at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. When asked if there is any concern for any of his players, he noted that they are all ready to play ball.

“We had a practice on Sunday and those players who competed in the track meet, we gave the time off to recuperate,” Bowles said. “As for the team, everybody is good and they have been working hard to get ready for the tournament. I think we will go to the tournament and do very well. We are looking to try and win it.”

Bowles thanked all of their supporters and noted that the blessing at church will go a long way in keeping his players motivated on the prize ahead of them - the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic. If they can win that too, he noted that it will be a tremendous boost to their celebrations next week when they return to Doris Johnson after the mid-term break.