The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Breezes High Flyers soared on all cylinders last night as they flew past the Johnson’s Trucking 98-84 to snatch a 1-0 lead in the New Providence Basketball Association men’s division II best-of-five championship series.

The High Flyers had four players in double figures in an all-around performance in the opening game at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

The men’s division one opener followed with the former champions Mail Boat Cybots taking a 1-0 lead over Mr Ship It Freight Regulators with a 93-83 win. (See game recap and photos in The Tribune Sports on Wednesday.

The Regulators made it to the big dance for the first time in just their second year in the league.Game two in both series will be played on Wednesday night with the two champions earning the rights to represent New Providence in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Bunny Levarity National Round Robin against the Family Island champions at the end of the month.

High Flyers 98,

Johnson’s Trucking 84

In what was expected to be an exciting match-up, Breezes led all but one point at the start of the game as they controlled the tempo as they coasted to victory as the NPBA gets set to crown a new champion this year.

The High Flyers, who dethroned the defending champions Bahamas Athletico in their semi-final playoff series, opened a 24-13 first quarter lead and extended it to 47-33 at the half.

Although they got outscored 23-20 in the third, they still took a 67-56 advantage into the fourth as they held of Johnson’s Trucking, who advanced to the final by knocking of the Hype Basketball Club in their half of the semifinal playoffs.

At one point, Breezes was up by 23 points.

Jeremy Neely had a big game, exploding for a game high 28 points with 10 rebounds and five assists. Neely, who played 34 minutes, shot 8-for-17 from the field, 2-for-6 from behind the three-point line and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the three throw line.

The High Flyers also got 20 points and 10 rebounds from DeVontee Gibson off the bench, while Travis Stuart, also of the bench, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Shanton Pratt helped out with 12 points and five steals; Dwight Moss had nine points, 10 rebounds and four steals and Enrico Bethel chipped in with nine points.

Tyrell Gibson, who had to play the entire game with only six Johnson’s Trucking players in uniform, had 21 points, three rebounds and two assists and as many steals.

Christoff Stuart had 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals; Horris McKenzie had 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists and Henry Rolle contributed 17 points with five steals, three block shots, three rebounds and two assists.

The High Flyers out-rebounded their opponents 62-42, but made 32 turnovers, compared to just 23 by Johnson’s, who held a 26-22 edge in points of the turnovers.

Breezes made their presence felt on the inside as they posted a 52-46 edge in points in the paint. They were also 26-9 in second chance points, 8-2 in fast break points and 40-17 in points of the bench.

Wednesday’s schedule

7 pm Johnson’s Trucking vs Breezes High Flyers (division II).

8:30 pm Mail Boat Cybots vs Mr Ship It Freight Regulators (division one).