The Tribune

THE New Providence Basketball Association will crown a new champion after Mr Ship It Freight completed a two-game sweep of the defending champions PJ’s Stingers in their best-of-three first round playoffs at AF Adderley Gym last night.

In a keenly contested match-up that went right down to the wire, the Regulators prevailed with a 102-97 victory.

The Stingers now await the winner between the Commonwealth Bank Giants and the Pirates in the semi-finals.

The Giants held a 1-0 lead going into game two of their series, which was also played last night. However, no scores were available up to press time.

The Stingers, in a gallant effort to stay alive against the Regulators, had taken a 93-93 lead with two minutes and 15 seconds left on a free throw from Dominic Bridgewater.

But the Regulators went up 96-93 with 1:32 on three consecutive free throws from Brian Bain. Refusing to go away that quickly, PJ’s came back for a 95-85 deficit on a basket from Devon Ferguson on the next play.

Again Mr Ship It Freight pulled away 98-95 on Eugene Bain’s jumper. But the Stingers cut it back to one (98-97) on Ishmael Curtis’ jumper with 51 seconds left. The Regulators surged ahead 100-97 on Dion McPhee’s tip-in with 27 seconds. After both Bridgewater and Randy Williams missed on a pair of baskets, Mr Ship It Freight sealed the deal on another basket from McPhee with eight seconds to go.

The lead switched a couple of times after the Regulators opened the first quarter with a slim 23-22 lead. The Stingers bounced back to go up 42-41 at the half. The Regulators again went ahead 75-70 at the end of the third. Both teams switched the lead in the fourth before the Regulators went on to pull off the win.

For the Stingers, Randy Williams finished with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Bridgewater had 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals, Devon Ferguson had 10 points, Vernon Stubbs 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and Ishmael Curtis had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Bain, in 32 minutes, pumped in a game high 34 points with 15 rebounds, McPhee had 15 points, four rebounds and four steals, Renaldo Baillou had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals, Gameliel Rose also had 12 points with six rebounds and three assists and Miguel Mackey had just five points, but dished out 10 assists and got six steals in the win.