The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EMANCIPATION Day saw the culmination of the second annual Hooping by the Park Basketball Tournament which came to an exciting close on Freedom Park in Fox Hill as the champions were crowned in all four divisions.

Dubbed Championship Day on Monday as the curtains came down on the five exciting days of competition, Human Beginnings stunned the Young Gunz 46-44 in an action packed men’s thriller in the finale.

After upset came in the 19-and-under division as the Lucayans routed the previously undefeated Strive for Greatness 29-18. Strive for Greatness, however, held off the Baintown Ballers 34-29 for the 16-and-under crown.

And Macedonia Baptist Church outlasted New Testament 41-33 to take home the church title.

There was also a legends’ celebrity game that saw the T-Bird Flyers come in from Kemp Road and knock off the host Fox Hill Saints in a long-time rivalry.

To add to the excitement, Wendy’s was on hand to stage their own half-time show that gave the fans a chance to interact on centre stage.

Humble Beginnings 46,

Young Gunz 44

For a team that came together at the last minute, Humble Beginnings turned a lot of heads, especially when it counted the most in the championship game.

Sanchez Moss, whose Strive for Greatness team lost their 19-and-under championship earlier in the day, displayed how the game should be played to his players.

He exploded for 16 points with four three-pointers - two in the second quarter, one in the third and the final one in the fourth that put the dagger in the back of the Young Gunz down the stretch.

Moss eventually was named the most valuable player.

Richard Lowe contributed 12 points and high jumper Ryan Ingraham proved that he could still play as he had six to help in the win for Humble Beginnings, coached by Jamari Wilmott, the tournament organiser.

Young Gunz, coached by Brent Stubbs, got 17 from Lerecus Armbrister, 12 from DeVonte Gibson and eight from Patrick Brice. Macedonia led 12-5 at the end of the first quarter, but blew the lead as New Testament came back for a 23-23 tie at the half.

Macedonia 41,

New Testament 33

DeVonte Gibson erupted for nine points, Emaniel Alexander had six and Nero Lockhart added four in the fourth quarter as Macedonia, coached by Brent Stubbs, broke the game wide open in the Church Division.

Gibson ended up with 11 points and was named the MVP. Alexander and Lockhart both had eight and both Don Hanna and Rus-Shorn Strachan had six each in the win.

Arlington Brown had a game high 13 points and both Nathan Sullivan and Richard Lowe both scored six and Daniel Adams added four for New Testament, coached by Gary Hanna Jr.

Lucayans 29,

Strive for Greatness 18

Kapry Camp had a big fourth quarter with 10 points as the Lucayans, coached by Ricardo Lees and Tamaro Butler, pulled away for the win in their 19-and-under contest.

Camp ended up with 12 points and was named the MVP.

Jermaine Adderley had eight, Mathian Thompson had six and Antjuan McFarlane added four in the win. Strive for Greatness, coached by Sanchez Moss, got four each from Emaniel Alexander, Janen Strachan and Menalick Smith. Don Hanna helped out with three.

Strive for Greatness 34,

Baintown Ballers 28

Saheed Sansi canned a game high 13 points, nine of which came in the second quarter, to earn the MVP honours in the boys’ 16-and-under division.

Frank Wallace had eight, Emaniel Alexander had five points and Daniel Joseph added four for the winners, coached by Mark Hanna. They used a 12-6 spurt in the fourth to seal the deal.

Baintown Ballers, who with coach Gerald Bethel held a 19-18 first half lead, got 13 points from Michael Albury. Heywood Seymour had seven and Donovan Aranha added four.

T-Bird Flyers 28,

Fox Hill Saints 23

Many doubted whether or not the 45-plus former players had at least one game left in their tank as they came out and put on a show.

Neville ‘Manny’ Adderley, one of the nation’s most prolific guards, was his usual style as he lit up the nets for a game high 12 points, including nine on two three-pointers in the Flyers’ 16-15 half-time lead.He was named the MVP.

Ricardo Rolle contributed six, Ricardo Pierre had five and Henry ‘Chicken’ Rolle finished with four for T-Bird, coached by Sharell Cash. Don Ferguson and Mel Butler both had five points and Shane ‘Jughead’ Taylor, another savvy guard of yesteryear, chipped in with four to pace Fox Hill, coached by Elisha McKinney. At times in the game, Taylor and Adderley matched up against each other, much to the delight of the crowd.

Organiser Jabari Wilmott thanked the Fox Hill Festival Committee for allowing the tournament to be staged as a part of the Emancipation and Fox Hill Day activities. He also thanked this year’s sponsors, including BTC, Rubis Bahamas, Wendy’s Bahamas, Impact Images, Gatorade, Coca-Cola and KB Photography.