The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With the regular season winding down in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association, teams were jockeying for the final four spots in the junior girls and boys divisions yesterday.

While the HO Nash Lions devoured the AF Adderley Fighting Tigers 45-15 in the junior girls’ game, AF Adderley turned the tables on HO Nash in the junior boys’ division with a 47-32 decision.

• Here’s a summary of their games played at the AF Adderley Gymnasium:

Fighting Tigers 47,

Lions 32

With the game on the line as HO Nash made a dent into the 30-20 deficit going into the fourth quarter, Jermaine Thompson and James Paul provided a 1-2 punch with six and five points to help AF Adderley preserve the win.

The Fighting Tigers improved to 5-2, but they still have another game today against the SC McPherson Sharks that will determine their position for the playoffs.

“We started off slow, but we picked it up because we didn’t want to exert too much energy because we want to get ready for the playoffs,” said AF Adderley’s coach Anton Francis.

Thompson finished with a game high 32 points and Paul ended up with 12.

Jacob Williams paced the Lions with 16, Jumeo Miller had six and Natario Higgs five in a losing effort.

The Lions dropped to 4-2, but coach Terrance King is still hoping that they will be in the playoff picture. However, if they do clinch a spot, he admitted that they will have to play better than they did against a potential opponent in the Fighting Tigers.

“I was very disappointed. The seniors on the team decided to come to the gym with their own game plan. They didn’t play our game plan today,” King stated. “That’s what happens when you don’t follow instructions.”

If they get into the playoffs, King stressed that they will have to work on their conditioning or they could be on the sidelines early in the postseason.

AF Adderley actually trailed for most of the game, falling behind 5-10 at the end of the first quarter and 14-17 at the half. However, they turned things around in the third, thanks to Thompson’s 12 points, as they surged out front 30-20 at the end of the final break.

Lions 45,

Fighting Tigers 15

This one was over from the first quarter as HO Nash opened an 18-6 tear and increased it to 31-9 at the half. By the end of the third, they were fully in control with a 44-11 advantage.

Gerniqua Bethel, who produced six, four and three points in the first three periods respectively, finished with a game high 13 points to lead the Lions as they prepare for their perennial appearance in the postseason.

Jonique Cunningham, with three in the first and second and five in the third, added 11. Trinity Cartwright, who came up with eight in the first quarter and two in the second, helped out with 10.

Shakara Delancy and Kenniece Black could only muster six and four points respectively in a losing effort for AF Adderley.

While there is still one or two positions to be determined for the junior teams, the seniors are all set for their showdown in the playoffs that is tentatively set to start on Friday.

In the senior boys’ division, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins are riding out front with a perfect 7-0 record. Both the CI Gibson Rattlers and CC Sweeting Cobras are tied at 5-2 and the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves occupy the fourth spot at 4-3.

The senior girls’ division is led by the undefeated CI Gibson Rattlers at 5-0. Both the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves and CV Bethel Stingrays are tied at 2-3 and CR Walker Knights round out the fourth spot.