The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

YOUR Essential Store (YES) and Commonwealth Bank Giants are both still undefeated in the New Providence Basketball Association.

Coming off the Christmas break, the Giants highlighted NPBA action Saturday night as YES pounded the Triple K Stampers 105-60 in the division II opener and Commonwealth Bank held off the Leno Regulators 93-83 in division one.

The other game played saw the Breezes High Flyers stun the University of the Bahamas Mingoes 94-85 in the night cap.

Giants 93, Regulators 83

D'Shon Taylor came out on fire, but it was Michael Bain and Jackson Jacob who both turned it up a notch down the stretch as Commonwealth Bank held off a late surge to push their unblemished record to 8-0 to top the John Archer Division.

Taylor, connecting on three consecutive three-pointers to start the game, poured in a game high 27 points.

He finished with 7-for-14 three-point shooting from behind the arc and was 10-for-19 from the field in just 20 minutes of play. He also had five rebounds, two steals and an assist.

When he left the game in the fourth quarter, the Giants were holding onto atleast a 20-point lead. But they watched that dwindle as the Regulators fought back and made it a contest right to the very end.

With Taylor on the bench and done for the night, Bain went on to finish the game with 16 points, converting six of his eight shots from the free throw line, while adding eight assists, five rebounds, two steals and a pair of block shots.

Jacob ended up with 11 points, three rebounds and as many assists.

The Giants, who played without their head coach Perry Thompson, who was recuperating in hospital from surgery, also got 12 points and eight rebounds from Adam Johnson.

Before being ejected with two technical fouls, Renardo Baillou chipped in with seven points and 11 rebounds.

Eugene Bain, playing against his (Groove) team-mates), had just five points and 11 rebounds, while newly acquired Brian Bain contributed two points with six rebounds, two assists and as many steals.

Michael Bain, team captain, said as they rebounded the ball, they were able to work on their chemistry as they came together when it counted the most.

"I think we came out with a lot of intensity to start the game, but we kind of slacked off in the fourth quarter," Bain said.

"We took our feet off the gas pedal and the Regulators fought right to the end. They were making it appear to be a respectable game."

The Giants, with Perry Thompson Jr running the shots, were on fire with an impressive 38-17 first quarter. They built a 55-32 margin at the half and were up 78-50 at the end of the third. But, in the fourth, the Regulators rebounded with a 33-15 rout to make it a contest.

Don 'Robo Cop' Dorsette, coach of Leno, said he was proud of his Regulators as they never gave up, despite the fact that they were playing against the defending champions. In defeat, Leno dropped to 4-5 for fourth place in the Vince Ferguson Division. "They are a hell of a team," he stated. "For the most part, we came out flat. It took us some time to figure some things out. They had a lot of talent, but my guys battled it out. That is what is most important. They came here to fight. I knew the Giants knew that it was going to be a fight."

Dorsett, however, said he was just as concerned about everybody else playing against the Giants without Thompson on the sidelines. He sent out prayers for his speedy recovery and wished him every success as he recuperates.

The Regulators got a 1-2 punch from Alexander Rolle and Cruz Simon, but it just wasn't enough to propel them to victory. Rolle had 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Simon also had 20 points with six rebounds. Kenneth Pratt came off the bench with 14 points and nine rebounds. Alex Joseph (four rebounds), Lloyd Bailey (five rebounds) and Wilfred Culmer (five rebounds and three assists) all added five points.

Giants 105,

Stampers 60

The Giants improved to 8-0 to lead the Charles Mackey Division. With the loss, Triple K dropped to 2-7 for fourth place.

"It was a long break and because they are doing some renovations inside the CI Gibson Gym, we didn't get in much practice," said Giants' coach Mark Hanna. "We started off slow. We had to get some things worked out in transition, but once we did that, they couldn't stop us.

"We have a talented team, but when it comes down to the playoffs, you can't win on talent alone. You have to have a system, so that is what we are doing now, trying to get everybody on the same page. We're looking to go undefeated, but if it doesn't, by God's grace, we want to win the championship."

YES looked like they were in championship mode, despite the long break.

After getting off to a slow 23-20 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Giants went on an offensive tear to extend their lead to 55-35 at the half. By the end of the third quarter, they were in cruise control with a 75-47 lead and they used a 30-13 spurt in the fourth to close out the massacre.

Anderias Black came off the bench and pumped in 21 points with 18 rebounds and two assists, Brandon Strachan and Dylan Musgrove both had 19 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, Adrian Thompson had six points, eight rebounds and six assists and James Vil had 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

In a losing effort for Triple K, coached by Dax Evans, Trae Greene had 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists, Teashon Gibson had 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and as many steals, Marques Cooper 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench, Johnley Noel eight points and four rebounds, Mark Sawyer eight and Mark Campbell added six points and seven rebounds.

High Flyers 94,

Mingoes 85

It was only the second loss for the University of the Bahamas, but Breezes joined them with the same identical record of 7-2 with the victory, who played without head coach Donnie Culmer.

In a game that saw 12 ties and eight lead changes, the Mingoes just couldn't get a serious run going to hold off Breezes Saturday night. It was far different from the night before when the University of the Bahamas opened the new year with an 88-76 decision over the Abaco Strong on Friday as the league resumed play after the Christmas break.

The High Flyers flew out to a slim 22-21 first quarter lead that they extended to 51-41 at the half. The Mingoes went on a 25-16 spurt in the third for a 67-66 deficit. But a 27-19 tear in the fourth sealed the deal for Breezes, who saw Delano Forbes call most of the show on the sidelines.

Jeremy Neely had 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, Rashad Ingraham had 22 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, Dale Davis had 17 points and 15 rebounds, Shantoin Pratt had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Dwight Moss Jr came off the bench with seven points and seven rebounds.

For the Mingoes, coached by Bacchus Rolle, Kemsey Sylvestre had 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, Chrisoff McKenzie had 19 points, Rashad Sturrup had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Ujamaa Johnson had eight points, five rebounds and four assists, Robert Johnson had eight points, three rebounds and two assists and Donovan Dean came off the bench with eight points, four rebounds and three assists.

TONIGHT

7pm - Asphalt Maintenance Pirates vs Sports Centre Elites (DII)

8:30pm - Commonwealth Bank Giants vs Uptown Cuts Specialists (D1)

Wednesday

7pm - Sun Oil Rockets vs Leno Eagles West (DII)

8:30pm - BIBT Great Whites vs Island Dimension & Development Wolverines (D1)