The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Breezes High Flyers and the Rockets both took a 2-0 lead in their New Providence Basketball Association best-of-five semi-final playoff series at the AF Adderley Gymnasium Saturday night.

While Breezes pulled off a 82-57 rout over the Triple K Stampers in the division II opener, the Rockets held off the University of the Bahamas Mingoes 77-72 in the division one feature contest.

On Friday, the other series were played with the Aliv Buckets pulling even with the Caro Contractors Resistance in the division II opener with a 83-68 rout and the Commonwealth Bank Giants stayed perfect on the season with a 85-82 decision over the PJ Stingers in the opener of their division one encounter.

• Here’s a summary:

Rockets 77,

Mingoes 72

Centre Livingstone Munnings led a balanced scoring attack with 19 points in 30 minutes and 38 seconds as he shot 8-for-13 from the field and 3-for-5 from the free throw line. He also had seven rebounds, three steals and three block shots.

Swingman Tomeko Moxey had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, point guard Lerecus Armbrister had 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block and Eugene Bain had 11 points, 17 rebounds and four assists. Both Rashad Saunders and Kevin Wright Jr added six points.

After both teams scored 15 points apiece in the first quarter, the Rockets went up 22-20 at the half before the University of the Bahamas went on a 18-14 spurt to go up 38-36 at the end of the third. However, the Rockets out-scored the Mingoes 26-19 in the fourth to secure the win.

In 37:39 minutes, forward Kemsy Sylvestre poured in a game high 36 points as he connected on 14-of-21 from the field and 8-of-22 from the foul line. He also had 10 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist.

Centre Justin Munroe had eight points and as many rebounds, guard Ramon Dames had eight points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block, forward Brian Jennings had five points, seven rebounds and two steals and guard Donovan Dean came off the bench with five points as well. Point guard Justin Smith was held to just two points with five rebounds and three assists.

High Flyers 82,

Stampers 57

Guard Jeremy Neely exploded for a game high 35 points, shooting 13-for-22 from the field, 3-for-5 from the three-point arch and 3-for-4 from the free throw line to lead Breezes. Neely also pulled down seven rebounds, dished out six assists and had four steals.

Forward Dale Davis had 15 points and 16 rebounds, two steals and a bock, forward DeVontee Gibson 10 points, six rebounds, five blocks and three steals, point guard Shontoin Pratt had six points. six rebounds, four assists and three steals and guard Delano Forbes contributed five points.

Breezes opened the first quarter to go up 23-18 and extended it to 47-27 at the half. By the end of the third, they were up 64-44 and they used a 18-13 spurt in the fourth to seal the win.

In a losing effort, Johnley Noel scored 23 points on 9-for-26 from the field, 3-for-11 from the three-point line and 2-for-4 from the foul line in 34:01 minutes as he also had nine rebounds.

Mark Campbell had 10 points and eight rebounds, Michael Turnquest had five points and four rebounds and Nathaniel Jean, Rodley Seraphin and Cameron Strachan all had four points.

Giants 85,

Stingers 82

Guard Michael Bain in 31:18 minutes, led four Commonwealth Bank players in double figures with 25 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.

Forward D’Shon Taylor had 19 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists, guard Darstyn Baker had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench, Gameliel Rose had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists, centre Tehrad Rahming scored just two points, but pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked three steals and guard David Taylor came off the bench with six points and 10 rebounds. The Giants trailed 20-19 at the end of the first quarter, but went up 40-39 at the half and they extended it to 65-60 after three periods. Even though PJ’s used a 22-20 spurt in the fourth, it wasn’t enough to stop Commonwealth Bank.

The Stingers, in a losing effort, got 23 points from Randy Williams as he shot 8-for-15 from the field, 3-for-5 from the three-point line and 4-for-5 from the foul line in 35:03 minutes to go along with four steals and three rebounds.

Devon Ferguson had 19 points and eight rebounds, Salathiel Dean had 18 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block, Henry Rolle came off the bench with nine points and Mario Pickstock had seven points and five rebounds.

Bucket 83,

Resistance 68

Playing the entire 40 minutes, forward Dylan Musgrove exploded for 30 points on 9-for-16 from the field, 1-for-5 from the three-point line and 9-for-11 from the foul line with 16 points, three steals, two assists and a block .

Forward Rashad Ingraham had 21 points and 14 rebounds, Akeil Bullard 13 points and six rebounds, guard Anwar Neilly six points, six assists and five rebounds and guard Levonne Moxey chipped in with six points.

For Caro Contractors, Quemah Gibson, 34:42 minutes, was 5-for-13 from the field, 1-for-7 from the three-point line and 9-for-13 from the charity stripe for 20 points with 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in the loss.

Kamal Murphy had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, Marcian Higgins had 13 points and five rebounds, Cormardo Seymour had eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, Matthew Davis had five points, four rebounds and four assists and Shannen Philips added five points.

TONIGHT

7pm - Aliv Bucket vs

Caro Contractors

Resistance - Division II

8:30pm - PJ Stingers vs

Commonwealth Bank Giants -

Division one