The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE University of Vermont Catamounts made history, becoming the champions of the initial Bahamas Showcase with a 66-64 victory over the Northern Kentucky Norsemen.

Most valuable player Trae Bell-Haynes, who finished with 19 points, canned the game-winning basket with three seconds left to seal the deal on Sunday night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Bell-Haynes also had three assists and as many rebounds. Anthony Lamb, however, powered their offensive attack with 26 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

John Becker, head coach of UVM, said it was good to get the Catamounts on the board as the initial champions of what he predicts can become another great tournament in the Bahamas.

"When we look back a year from now, we will really appreciate what we did this week," Becker said.

The Catamounts went undefeated in the three-day tournament, routing the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 80-67 in their semi-final encounter and pulling off a 65-64 decision over Bradley Braves in their opening match.

"We were down at the half in every game, but we battled back and we dug out of every adversity and we found a way each and every night to win," Becker stressed. "I couldn't be more proud of our guys, especially in the championship game."

The Catamounts, who opened the game with a 7-0 run, fell behind by as much as 13 points - 59-46 - with nine minutes and two seconds to go in the second half.

But they went on a 12-0 tear at 6:09 to cut the deficit to one, 59-58 and it was a close battle the rest of the way as UVM managed to turn things around to pull off the win.

In a losing effort, Lavone Holland II led Northern Kentucky with 14 points and five assists. Carson Williams had 12 points and four rebounds and Drew McDonald chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.

Becker said just being the Bahamas was enough for his team. But to top it off by being in the newly opened Baha Mar was an added incentive for his Catemounts' team.

"The resort is beautiful and the people are so friendly," he stated.

"That was something that stuck out with me. Obviously, the beaches are beautiful, but it's about the people for me. "Every person that I came in contact with were really helpful, nice and happy. I really appreciate them and what they did for us."

UVM, according to Becker, would love to come back in the next four years when the NCAA rule would allow for them to make their next international trip.

But, in the meantime, Becker said they would prepare for their return to the United States when they play their regular season opener on Wednesday night against Maine-Fort Kent in the America East Conference.

"We want to win our conference," he pointed out. "We won 21 games last year going undefeated to the NCAA Tournament. We're picked this year to win our conference and return to the NCAA Tournament. That's our goal."

Becker said the tournament has certainly pushed his Catamounts into the right direction.

Prior to coming here, they were on a roll, winning their first three games before losing to the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

The tournament featured a total of eight teams with Coastal Carolina taking third place with an 89-84 decision over the Iona Gaels, thanks to Zac Cuthbertson's game high 31 points and six rebounds. Rickey McGill had 23 points and seven assists in the loss.

In other games on Sunday, Bradley won 70-64 over Weber State Wildcats and University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners routed James Madison Dukes 90-77.

Saturday's games saw Northern Kentucky win 85-72 over Iona; Vermont won 80-67 over Coastal Carolina; Weber State held of James Madison 73-65 and Bradley knocked of UTSA 71-69. And on the opening day of the tournament, Iona won 80-72 over Weber State; Northern Kentucky won 87-78 over James Madison; Coastal Carolina def. UTSA 83-69 and Vermont nipped Bradley 65-64.

Josh Franklin, the tournament director, said they are excited to have staged the inaugural tournament in the Bahamas under the BD Global Sports banner out of the United States.

"It was very successful. Anytime you are flying eight teams into an island where we have never had a basketball tournament, we are always going to run into some hiccups," he said.

"But we were able to rectify the things and everybody had good raves about Baha Mar and the Kendal Isaacs Gym. They were even more impressed with the hospitality of the Bahamian people. That was the resounding response I got from all of the teams."

Having gotten the tournament off the ground, Franklin said they are already planning for the second tournament at the same time next year.

"We're going to work on some outreach and get some youth clinics in and conduct some coaching clinics and also reach out for some more sponsorships," Franklin said. "It takes a village to put these things together, so we hope we can get everybody on board."