By VINO
Barbados takes the game from BVI 79-49 at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Championship. Photo; Charlie E. Jackson / VINO
The BVI were brought down to earth with a bump on Tuesday June 9, 2015, with a 79-49 defeat to Barbados at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Championship in the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town.
The BVI started the game looking nervous and tentative, despite the famous victory over Guyana the previous night. They soon found themselves in deep trouble, down 20-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Barbados went on a nine-point run to start the second quarter and it wasn’t until over half way through the period that first Joy Victor and then Tiffany Jennings began to put some smiles back on their team mates faces and those of a Spartan crowd. A big block by Tammy Phillip, followed by a quick interchange between Tyalia Nibbs and Jennings, brought further confidence of a resurgence, but with the Barbadians keeping the Phillip sisters out of the game offensively, it proved short lived.
The half time score of 38-21 became 55-37 at the end of the third and although there were some glimmers of hope during the 4th, including a Keithreece Smith “3”, it is back to the drawing board ahead of tonight’s crunch game against Jamaica.
Jennings was the top scorer for the BVI with 14, Tamara Phillip was held to just 8 with 11 Rebounds and Darier Malone finished with 6.
For Barbados, Toni Atherley scored 21 Points, Dale-Marie Cumberbatch 15 with 9 Rebounds and Astrid Alleyne 11 with 8 Rebounds.
Jamaica thrash Guyana
Earlier, Jamaica blew the game wide up in the second half to defeat Guyana 70-43 when they outscored them, 36-28, including not allowing a point until the 3:40 during the 4th quarter to run away with their second victory at the Championships.
They were lead by Tarika Gordon who finished with 23 points. Yanique Gordon was able to build off her game one performance with 15 points and 7 rebounds.
In a losing effort, Miriam Ruth McKenzie finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Guyana complete group play tomorrow against Barbados at 2:00 pm while Jamaica, the defending champs, look to sweep the group against the British Virgin Islands at 9:00 pm.
USVI hammer Antigua
After a tight first quarter, the United States Virgin Islands used a smothering pressure defense and an explosive offense to pull away from Antigua & Barbuda, 94-31. The USVI led by just three, 15-12, after one period. But Britney Matthew exploded for 17 first-half points as USVI outscored Antigua 22-4 in the second to take a 37-16 lead at halftime. The Virgin Islands’ defense held Antigua scoreless for the first 6:43 of the second period.
The exciting athleticism of the Virgin Islands continued to be on display in the second half as they continued their dominance, leading 64-26 after the third quarter.
Matthew led all scorers with 25 points. Quatica Johnson and Victoria Hamilton each added 13, while Natalie Day had 12 for the Virgin Islands(1-1). Dalia Clarke led Antigua (1-1) with 9.
Bahamas turns game around to beat SVG
Trailing by eleven to St Vincent and Grenadines at halftime in preliminary Group A play, the Bahamas found some motivation in the locker room from their head coach, Yolett McPhee.
“I told them that if they were serious about playing for their country and not for themselves, they would come out in the second half and show it,” McPhee said.
The team listened and responded, and came away with a 62-54 come-from-behind win over St Vincent and Grenadines, moving to 2-0 in preliminary round play. St Vincent and Grenadines (0-2) led 18-9 after one and 40-29 at half.
The Bahamas outscored St Vincent and Grenadines 20-7 in the third to take a 49-47 lead heading into the final period, taking their first lead at 45-44 with 1:30 to play in the third.
A Shanea Armbrister three-pointer built the lead to eight at 59-51 with 3:43 to play, but a three-pointer by Sheldeen Joseph with 2:55 to play cut the lead back to five. Armbrister answered a moment later, however, with another three, and SVG was never able to get any closer.
Action continues at 2pm with Guyana against Barbados, then at 4pm Bahamas play Antigua and Barbuda before the USVI play St Vincent and the Grenadines at 6.00pm.
Group play concludes at 9m with the BVI facing Jamaica.
