The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE CI Gibson Rattlers and St Augustine's College Big Red Machine basketball programmes celebrated the winter break with tournament titles at the 2019 Providence Holiday Classic.

In the finale the Rattlers regained their senior boys' title while the Big Red Machine won the senior girls' division at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

The Rattlers defeated the CC Sweeting Cobras 55-47 in the championship game.

Saheed Sanusi delivered an MVP performance with 20 points on a blistering 7-8 shooting from the field and 2-3 from three-point range.

Emmanuel Alexander finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, David Ambrose scored nine while Kenvon Farrington added five points and seven rebounds. Haywood Seymour led the Cobras with 17 points and eight rebounds, Donovan Aranah scored 11 with four steals and Christian Manace added seven points and eight rebounds.The Rattlers previously won the title in 2014-17 before they were unseated by the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins in 2019.

The Big Red Machine prevented a CI Gibson sweep when they defeated the Rattlers 49-35 to win the girls' title. M'Kayla white was dominant on the boards and finished with a double double - 12 points and 21 rebounds.

Antonicia Moultrie also had a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, Rachel Rolle scored 10 and Jade Brown also added nine points.

Glennia Sands was the lone Rattlers player in double figures with 14 points, Judea Rahming scored eight and Jasmine Mackey scored seven.

Anatol Rodgers won the third place game 45-31 over the St John's College Giants. Ashante Strachan scored 10 to lead the T'wolves while Laverne Armbrister finished with seven points and 14 rebounds.

Designed for teams to stay in shape during the winter break, the event is hosted each year by the Providence Basketball Club, headed by Kevin 'KJ' Johnson, who is also the head coach of the host Rattlers.

In the 17th edition of the event, Jonshon said the expansion of the event with the inclusion of the girls division

"We know that the girls need to get in some extra games, so this is a good time for them to do it," Johnson said. "I think the girls' division and the teams coming in from Grand Bahama and Andros should make the tournament a lot more exciting this year."

Boys teams participating in this year's event in addition to the Rattlers and Cobras included the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons, Government High Magic, Queen's College Comets, Teleos Cherubims, CR Walker Knights and St. George's Jaguars out of Grand Bahama.

Sanusi was the MVP of the boys division while Moultrie was the MVP in the girls division.

Sanusi led the All-Tournament team and was joined by his teammate Alexander. The remainder of the team included Nathan Allen (Queen's College), Kevin Thompson (Anatol Rodgers), Dwaine Gayles (St. George's), Adrian Pinder (St. George's), Eric Nelson (Queen's College), Donovan Aranha (CC Sweeting) and Rickey Moxey (CC Sweeting)

Kevin Johnson was named the coach of the tournament and Wayde Watson was the runner up.