The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Akhepran International Academy Scarabs served notice yesterday that they are going after both the primary and senior boys’ basketball titles in the Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association (BSAA).

As the sudden death playoffs got started at the DW Davis Gymnasium, the Scarabs’ primary boys took care of Heritage Academy 21-15 and their Scarabs’ senior boys eliminated Freedom Baptist Academy 65-33. In the two other games played, Teleos Cherubims’ senior girls sent Noble Preparatory Academy packing 35-12 and Hillcrest Academy primary boys nipped the Queen’s College Comets 26-24.

The remainder of the playoff games will be played today and the best-of-three championship series will start on Monday.

Akhepran Academy 65, Freedom Baptist 33

This senior boys’ match-up was over from the start as the Scarabs opened an impressive 20-4 spurt in the first quarter and they were never threatened.

Alvinardo Parker lit up the nets for a game high 21 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for Akhepran. Kemp had 12 and both Maleeke Storr and Joshua Symonette contributed 11 points.

“They stepped up, especially my big man, Joshua Symonette,” said Scarabs’ coach Sanchez Moss. “They just got a lot of jump shots, hit the three-pointers and they played very good defence. I was very happy with their performance.”

Moss said as long as they come out with that same type of intensity that they played with last night, there’s no reason why they should not win the title.

Deangelo Foulkes connected on a couple of three-pointers to finish with 19 to pace Freedom Baptist. They also got seven apiece from David Pierre and Travis Robinson, but it just wasn’t enough.

Akhepran Academy 21, Christian Heritage 15

Delroy Mackey led a balanced attack with eight points and Ethan Flowers and Andromio Porter helped out with six each to secure the Scarabs’ primary boys berth into the final. “They were able to pull off some tough shots and they played defence this time,” said Akhepran’s coach Sanchez Moss. “We put in a lot of work, so I was happy that we pulled it off.”

For the final, Moss said they just simply have to execute their plays.

Mariano Culmer paced Christian Heritage with nine in the loss.

Hillcrest Academy 26, Queen’s College 24

In what turned out to be the most exciting game of the day, neither gave up until the final buzzer sounded. When it did, Hillcrest had the final say.

Latario Babbs and Marvin Lewis both scored eight and Jordan Brennen had seven as the big three got the job done down the stretch for Hillcrest, who only had seven players in uniform.

“Some of our key players are not here today, so they played very, very hard and they are excited, so we are happy that we won,” said coach Sylvia Arnold. “The team has been playing very well, but when it come to crunch time, some parents do not send the players out, so we are without a lot of our good players.”

For the finals, Arnold said they hope to be at full strength.

Keishaun Rolle scored a game high 12 and Kaiden Deveaux had eight in a losing effort for Queen’s College, who had a full compliment of players.

Teleos Academy 33, Noble Preparation Academy 12: As they rotated their line-up with five players at a time, the defending champions Cherubims were able to easily control the tempo of their senior girls match-up.

They got the ball rolling with a 18-4 spurt at the end of the first quarter and they stayed ahead, slowly tacking on the points as they utilized the clock to slow down the game in the half-court set.

Ladesha Johnson out-scored their opponents by herself with a game high 16 points,

Rowanna Deveaux matched their total out-put with 12 and Bernell Colebrooke added eight.

“We just wanted to get our plays downpack for the next team we will play (in the finals),” said Teleos’ coach Tanica Joseph. “Our goal is try to make it to the nationals. The championships is just pone step, but the nationals is our goal.”

Keva Hendfield-Johnson had five and both Trinity Kemp and Madison Woodside had four in the loss.