The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE games began on Monday but the country’s longest standing high school basketball tournament officially tipped off in grand style yesterday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

This year’s tournament is hosted under the theme “Embracing Success Through Sports and Teamwork.”

Theophilus Claridge, principal of AF Adderley, said the theme was derived from a need to achieve both on and off the court.

“Excellence means that we aspire to be outstanding; we strive to be the best we can be. Each team participating in this year’s classic has demonstrated excellence. They have lived the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle when he said the words stated in our opening quote, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.’ They have developed excellence by developing the habit of excellence,” he said.

“From its inception, the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic has strived to portray excellence in basketball. As we continue to promote excellence in the sporting arena, we must also promote excellence in academics and in character development.”

The programme included performances from students representing a diverse selection of schools, highlighted by a rendition of “Bahama Rock” from the Tigers’ band.

To commemorate the event, the colourful ceremony also included the parade of colours from the RBDF Rangers, performances from the CR Walker Dancers, the CR Walker School Band along with the athletes, coaches and referees pledge.

Several dignitaries were on hand from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the tournament’s organising committee also honoured event sponsors and paid special recognition to the family of the tournament’s namesake, the late Hugh Campbell – one of the country’s iconic educators.

The double elimination format tournament is slated to run through Monday when the championship game will be played at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.

The visiting teams from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands dominated the schedule yesterday.

Gateway Christian Academy out of Bimini easily survived a nailbiter to defeat the Eight Mile Rock Blue Jays 41-40 in the first game.

Bradley Lightbourn scored nine of his game high 20 points at the line and led just five Gateway players who reached the scoreboard. He also finished with a double double and added 10 rebounds.

Denzel Jones scored 12 and Cavon Dames chipped in with six.

Delano Dean led the Blue Jays with 18 points and Devon Williams scored eight.

In the second game of the session, the Jack Hayward Wildcats dominated the Aquinas College Aces 44-21.

The Wildcats opened the game on a 14-3 run and led wire-to-wire en route to the win.

Tremaine Ferguson scored nine while Clevon Clarke added seven for the Wildcats.

Kriston Clarke led the Aces with seven.

In the final game of session one, the Government High Magic blew away the NCA Crusaders 52-20.

Pedro Knowles led the Magic with 14 points and five steals, Mario Narin scored 11, Samuel Gibson and Justin LaRose each scored eight and Terrion Kemp grabbed a game high 12 rebounds.

The tournament continues 10am today in the AF Adderley Gymnasium with the first of three sessions.

In 2016, the CC Sweeting Cobras captured their fifth title in school history with a 55-54 win over the Sunland Baptist Stingers. The programme has won four titles under current head coach Mario Bowleg (2012-13, 2015-16) and one under Ian Pinder (2007).

The Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, under head coach, Norris Bain, still hold the record of having won the title six times (1995-96, 1998, 2000, 2009-10). Bain has stepped aside as Kevin Clarke now mans the helm for the Falcons.

He issued a statement in the tournament’s official media guide on the honour of being the most successful coach in tournament history.

“I must first give thanks to the Almighty God for providing the wisdom and understanding to give back to the most precious commodity of our country, our young men. Secondly, I would not have achieved this success that I have achieved in this tournament without my mentors in this discipline, Mr Charles Mackey and Gladstone “Moon” McPhee, who have been trailblazers in high school basketball in the Bahamas,” Bain said.

“As far as being the ‘winningest’ coach in Hugh Campbell history, it is quite an honour. Remember, records are made to be broken. I passed legendary coach Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee and some day, I know, some outstanding Bahamian will take this to greater heights, and my hold as the winningest coach will be history.”

The Rattlers and coach Johnson are close behind with five (2002, 2004-2006 and 2014), while Catholic High has also won it five times, three times under Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee (1983, 1989 and 1991) and twice under Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins (1999 and 2003).

The initial tournament, which was only played between the New Providence schools, in 1982 was won by the LW Young Golden Eagles, coached then by Walter Rand with Bernard Storr as the MVP.

The next year, the Grand Bahama teams joined and McPhee and the Crusaders with Ben Russell as the MVP won their first title in 1983.

The other tournament winners were LW Young, coached by Walter Rand and led by MVP Bernard Storr, as the initial champions in 1992, Sir Jack Hawyard Wildcats, coached by Ivan Butler in 2001, RM Bailey Pacers, coached by Nigel Ingraham, in 2011, Eight Mile Rock Bluejays, coached by Gary McIntosh in 1985 and 1990, CR Walker Knights, coached by Jimmy Clarke in 1997 and Trevor Grant in 2008 and the host AF Adderley Fighting Tigers, coached by Doug Collins, back-to-back in 1987 and 1988 before they became a junior high school, but continue to host the invitational tournament as their major fundraiser.

No Family Island or BAISS school has ever won the tournament, which was cancelled once in 1986 because of a dispute with the teachers that eventually led to the formation of the GSSSA and the BAISS.

A tournament rich in history and traditionally hosted at the AF Adderley Gymnasium returned to the school’s campus in 2014 following a five-year hiatus.