By BVISports.com
Elmore Stoutt High School girls win Bertha C Bochulte International March Madness Junior Vasity Baskeball Tournament. Photo: David Edole
The Charlotte Amalie High School boys and Elmore Stoutt High School girls of Tortola earned championships Sunday at the Bertha C. Bochulte International March Madness Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament.
The Charlotte Amalie boys outlasted Elmore Stoutt 42-38 behind clutch free throws by Vallon Toussaint on Sunday afternoon.
“Both teams were in bonus situation in the third period so it became a free throw shooting competition,” said Charlotte Amalie JV coach Thomas Brutvan. “I told the guys to get the ball to Vallon and Jonathan (Eliasa) and they took us home.”
Toussaint hit two big free throws with 45 seconds left as the Hawks held a 40-36 advantage. Michael Richardson, who scored 16 points, answered by splitting a pair of free throws to get Stoutt within three.
Toussaint then nailed another with 30 seconds left and Eliasa put the game away with one of his own.
“I told my guys to be strong with the ball,” Brutvan said. “Our guard play was somewhat exceptional today. I knew they (Stoutt) have an outstanding man-to-man and 1-2-2 press. They like to create multiple turnovers and score four to six points in the blink of an eye. We did not commit too many turnovers; we took care of the basketball.”
Charlotte Amalie was 8-of-15 shooting in the fourth at the free-throw line and 17 of 35 for the game. Elmore Stoutt was 7 of 22 in their attempts at the line.
“This was a great tournament to be a part of,” Brutvan said. “I can’t remember a JV tournament with so many close games and a double-overtime thriller. This was truly March Madness.”
Toussaint had 16 points and Eliasa put in eight to pace the Hawks attack.
Charlotte Amalie finished the tournament undefeated in four games and got to the finals after getting by the host team 36-35. Eliasa hit three treys as the Hawks stormed back from as much as 14 points down to pull out a win. He finished with 12 points and Toussaint added nine. J’Wan Roberts had nine points to lead BCB.
Elmore Stoutt survived a Eudora Kean test 40-33 in the semifinals. Richardson was marked for 12 points and Renlil Massac Jr. added 10. Eudora Kean was led by Jahkwani Williams’ 10 points.
In the battle for third place, BCB bounced back and held off Eudora Kean 44-40.
Jeremiah James knocked down two big 3-pointers in the third period to separate the teams. James ended up with a team-high 11 points and Robert added eight for the Blazers. Jasheem Morton and Riquoi Benjamin each contributed 13 points for the Rays.
Elmore Stoutt’s Shaliquah Fahie put St. Thomas-St. John Interscholastic Athletic Association girls varsity basketball scene on notice. She had the performance of the tournament, scoring the last seven Stoutt points, lifting the Lady Rams over the BCB Lady Blazers 35-30, avenging an earlier loss.
“She is such a wonderful player,” Stoutt coach Derwin Scattlife said. “She told me before the game that if we are in a close one, she is promising a victory. She took on the challenge of defending each one of the better offensive players for BCB. She had three big steals while playing on top of the defensive zone.”
Fahie’s basket gave Stoutt a 30-26 lead with 1:44 on the clock.
Jah’Lysha Samuel answered with a tough jump shot as BCB got within stinking distance. However, Fahie was fouled going to the basket and hit two free throws to go up 32-28 with 44 seconds remaining.
After a pair of turnovers, BCB’s Nailea Nicholas laid the ball to get her team within two.
Fahie promise to her coach would be fulfilled as she took the inbounds pass, drove down the right side by defenders and laidthe ball in while being fouled. She added the free throw to put the game away.
“She only had one foul and I told her to be aggressive,” Scatliffe said. “She got two of BCB’s best in foul trouble and she played like how I expected her to play.
“This one (tournament) is very sweet. I only had three quarters of my team. “One of my issues is finances. If I had my big three, no team could beat us. Next year, if our finances are straightened out, we will be a force in this league.”
Fahie had a game- and tournament-high 19 points.
Samuel and Nicholas reached double-digit scoring for the Blazers with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Blazers routed Elmore Stoutt 29-17 and held Fahie scoreless in the second half on Saturday.
March Madness Junior varsity tournament Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, St. Thomas, Final Standings:
Boys
1. Charlotte Amalie (4-0)
2. Elmore Stoutt (3-1)
3. Bertha C.Boschulte (2-2)
4. Eudora Kean (1-3)
5. Addelita Cancryn (1-2)
6. V.I. Montessori (0-3)
Girls
1. Elmore Stoutt (4 -1)
2. Bertha C. Boschulte (2-1)
3. Charlotte Amalie (2-2)
4. Addelita Cancryn (0-2)
5. Elena Christian (0-2)
