The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

It was another dose of victory celebrations for the Jordan Prince William Falcons basketball teams.

Last year, it was the Falcons’ senior and junior boys who were crowned the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools champions.

Yesterday, the Falcons’ senior boys, coached by Ernest Saunders, was back for a repeat treat and was joined by the senior girls, coached by Terrance ‘Red Eye’ McSweeney, who missed out on the opportunity to celebrate a triple-feat last year after their unblemished season came to a stunning halt in the sudden death playoffs.

Rev Dr William Thompson, president of the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, headed a list of dignitaries on hand for the celebrations at Jordan Prince William High School yesterday before they took to the streets for a motorcade.

Others joining Rev Thompson, pastor of Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, were convention’s first vice president Rev Smith, pastor of Mt Horeb Baptist Cathedral, executive secretary Bishop Delton Fernander, pastor of New Destiny Baptist Church and Rev Daniel Nottage, pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

Also in attendance was Rev Perry Cunningham, president of the BAISS.

Rev Thompson said it was a great day for the institution and a great day for the team. “To win a championship in the private schools where you have schools like St Augustine’s College and St John’s, when you win two straight, I have to say that the kids applied themselves,” Thompson said.

“The coaches did a wonderful job in getting them ready.

“In fact, I think the whole institution did a wonderful job in getting the team ready. We are going on the streets now to celebrate and then we will come back for a grill and chill. But we hope to be back here in the next few weeks to celebrate another sporting success.”

Rev Thompson, however, said as their school motto suggests: Lux Orbis Jesus Est, which means ‘Jesus is the Light of the World,’ said their focus remains academics, but they welcome any success their sporting teams achieve.

Members of the boys’ team included Adam Johnson, Orthineil Newry, Shakim Sweeting, Jayson Deveaux, Darius Lewis, Jason Gooding, Mateo Taylor, Frantwion Newton, Sherman Marshall, Justin Griffin, Prince McPhee, Dwight Dean, David Taylor, Wilfred Ferguson, Koy Martin and Stevejay Whylly.

“I felt that we played a great series. We tried to execute every play that coach gave us,” Newton said. “That’s what we did for the first two games of the championships and that is how we won.”

Newton said their goal at the beginning of the season was to duplicate their perfect season from last year in defending their title and they accomplished the feat.

“We only lost one major player, which was our captain last year, but we still had a good team and we had people in place who played a big role,” he said.

One of those players was Newton, who was named the most valuable player.

“It wasn’t something that I went into the game saying that I wanted to accomplish,” he said.

“It just happened. I’m glad that I went out as a champion, but I hope that the guys can come back and three-peat next year.”

The girls’ team comprised of Terrell Cox, Aalyah Ramsey, Miar Rolle, Latique Smith, Krystinique Moss, Amir Thompson, Robyn Porter, Shanique Thompson, Dwanique Rolle, Page Gilbert, Tertulya Bazil, Trecia Brown, Judy Forbes and Teanajah Rahming.

“It was good for us to win the title after we came so close last year,” said Cox, the girls’ team captain. “We put in the work before the season started and we played up to our expectations this year.

“I’m very happy with the way all of the girls played. Coach is definitely the best. He worked us hard because he didn’t want us to lose again this year. So we are very proud that we won this year.”

Cox said it was even more gratifying for her because she will be leaving as a champion.

But she encouraged her teammates to keep the streak going as they come back next year to successfully defend their title.

Hattie Moxey, the head of Physical Education at Jordan Prince Williams, said a lot of hard work and dedication went into the success of the Falcons’ basketball teams.

“I selected two persons from my area where I live, Mr Ernest Saunders and Mr ‘Red Eye’ McSweeney, who are both passionate about basketball,” she stressed. “So I knew when I got them to confirm to coach the teams, I knew I would have gotten a lot of wins because they are both passionate, dedicated and committed. So I’m looking for some more championships.”

Last year, the Falcons’ senior girls went undefeated in winning the pennant, only to get eliminated in the playoffs.

This year they returned with vengeance and Moxey said they vowed to redeem themselves and they did exactly that in winning both the pennant and championship titles.

“The good thing is I’m having just about all of my girls coming back next year,” Moxey said.

“We will only be losing one of them. So we expect to be back here next year for another celebration for them.”

For the senior boys, Saunders said it’s fantastic to celebrate again.

“The boys did a great job. It’s indescribable,” he said. “We are losing about six guys, but we have a lot of the boys coming back, so we are looking forward to going for a three-peat.

“We work very hard and start before everybody. That is one of the reasons why we are back here for another celebration. Hopefully we will do the same next year.”

Now all that’s left is for the Falcons to go to the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic for senior boys and win the title that has eluded BAISS teams.

“Whatever is presented to us on that road, we are looking to take it down,” Saunders said. “All we could say is everybody better be ready for the Falcons because we have put in the work and we hope it will pay off in the end for us.”