Basketball Federation launches 3×3 District Tournament

Photo: BVI Basketball Federation Facebook

President of the BVI Basketball Federation, Mr Derrick Varlack, announced that the Federation is seeking interested persons to register for the 3×3 district tournaments in an effort to familiarize themselves with the 3×3 game.

Mr Varlack noted that “the Federation has been reviewing viable solutions to rejuvenate and sustain basketball throughout the Territory. We believe that 3×3 basketball is a new option for basketball in the territory, which provides opportunities for basketball players regionally and internationally.”

“As we prepare to enter the 2021 basketball calendar year, we anticipate facilitating several 3×3 tournaments in addition to the traditional 5 on 5 basketball leagues across the BVI. We will continue providing support in efforts to foster the development of basketball while promoting an active lifestyle in our community,” said Mr. Varlack.

The BVIBF 3×3 district tournament coordinators are:

D1 Deshaun Hodge/ Ray Victor
D2 Verne Turnbull
D3 Milton McLean
D4 Ronald Simmonds/Bryant Thomas
D5 Kennedy Bass
D6 Nathaniel Malone/Byron Massicot
D7 Vanceto Pickering/ Kareem Thomas
D8 Kareem Thomas/Vince Pickering
D9 Mark Noel

Interested persons should contact the BVIBF for more information at bvibasketball@gmail.com or at (284) 340 – 3790. Updates on the BVIBFs plans, athletes, community initiatives and more can be found on the federation’s social media pages at @bvibasketballfed.

BVI to defend title in Battle of the Fittest 5 on 5 Basketball Tourney in St Maarten

Source: VINO

Killven M. Samuel. Photo: Team of Reporters

After failing to field either a male or female team in the senior Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) 2018 Tournament in Suriname, the Territory will be represented at the ‘Dreams to Reality Foundation 2018 Battle of the Fittest 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament’ from July 15 to July 21, 2018, at LB Scott Sports Auditorium in St. Maarten (Dutch side).

The team, which has been endorsed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Basketball Federation and is the official BVI team, will be competing under the name BVI Bayside Blazers and departs the Territory on Saturday July 14, 2018, via VI Air Link.

The highly competitive league has eight Caribbean countries participating, including a team from the United States of America.

Mr Julian Willock, who will manage the BVI Team, said “the trip is possible because of many kind contributions from corporate BVI.”

He added, “…the BVI is the defending champion so you know everyone will be coming for us.”

The Head Coach of the team is Ronald Simmonds aka ‘Gola’ and the assistant Coach is Trevor M. Stevens aka ‘West’ of Virgin Gorda.

The team comprises  10 players, from from both Virgin Gorda and Tortola.

While not giving all the names of players, Mr, Willock, said the team roster includes big names like Ray D. Victor, who is the team captain, Killven M. Samuel, Kimani T. Stevens, Dion M. Blyden, Shamarr A. George, Jason A. Edwin and Daven D. Ottley among others.

There are other personnel who will make up the delegation to the ‘2018 Dreams to Reality Foundation Basketball competition.’
They include trainer Karl M. Scatliffe and Assistant Team Manager Derrick R. Varlack.

Veteran player Kennedy H. Bass, will be a special advisor to the Team and will fit in as an alternative, if any player is injured.
Mr Willock said, “…fans who can make it down to St. Maarten are welcome to come to cheer for the home town team and wave the BVI flag.”

The games in St. Maarten will also be streamed live on ‘Facebook MSR TV.’ The BVI Basketball delegation will return to the BVI on Sunday July 22, 2018.

Sponsors
The Bank of Asia is the Team’s platinum sponsor. Other contributors include NAGICO Insurance, House of Luxury, Road Town Wholesale, Midnight Marine Holdings/EZ Shipping, Skelton Group of Companies, Caribbean Cellars, Nanny Cay Marina and Hotel, J & C Trading, Sunleaf Construction Ltd., Hon Andrew A. Fahie, Hon. Archibald C. Christian, Hon. Alvera Maduro-Caines, Julian Willock, Mitsy Ellis-Simpson, Moneygram, BVI Tourist Board, JML delivery, BCQS, Premier Insurance Limited, BVI Olympic Committee and Triple A Trucking.

 

BVI Men’s Basketball Team ranked 92 in world

Source: VINO

The Virgin Islands (UK) Senior Men’s Basketball team has been ranked as number 92 in the world, following the release of the governing body’s new system of calculation. Photo: Provided

The Virgin Islands (UK) Senior Men’s Basketball team has been ranked as number 92 in the world, following the release of the governing body’s new system of calculation.

Presented by Nike, the innovative game-based ranking factors in results from official games played by 149 national teams and will be updated after every window of Qualifiers and following the conclusion of top official FIBA competitions.

The new ranking is based on results of games ranging from regional pre-qualifiers all the way to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final, and includes the Olympic Basketball Tournament as well as the Continental Cups. The previous ranking was purely competition-based and only took into account the final standings of tournaments.

The basic principle is simple: 1,000 basis points are awarded in each game, with the two teams earning a share of these according to the margin of victory or defeat. Weightings are added on a round basis meaning that, when a team progresses through a top official FIBA competition, its wins are worth more with every round it plays.

The ranking has revised weightings of the competitions. For the first time, it sees the implementation of a time decay rewarding teams for their most recent performances. This replaces the system in place under the previous ranking, where all games over the 8-year period received the exact same value.

Finally, the new ranking also recognises the value of away wins and rewards facing and beating opponents that are higher in the ranking.

FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member, Patrick Baumann said: “The new ranking was devised with our new calendar clearly in mind. We are pleased to offer more teams – 149 of them, compared to 91 previously – a ranking that can be updated after every window of the Qualifiers so that national teams, fans and their national federations can follow their progress on a more regular basis. Prior to the change, the rankings already proved to be among the most popular pages on FIBA basketball and we expect there will be even more debating and conversations taking place following the implementation of this new one.”

For now, the new FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, only applies to senior men’s national teams and competitions. FIBA will work towards drawing up and implementing similar systems for the women’s and youth (boys and girls) rankings at a later stage.

Making the list for the CBC sub-sub-zone are:

Men’s Ranking

15. Puerto Rico

17. Dominican Republic

51. Virgin Islands

59. Bahamas

60. Cuba

68. Jamaica

76. Antigua

92. British Virgin Islands

97. Barbados

100. St.Vincent and the Grenadines

109. Bermuda

110. Guyana

118. Surinam

121. Cayman Islands

143. Trinidad and Tobago

Four BVIslanders Earn Top Spots In NBA Regional Camp

Source: BVI News and BVI Platinum

Demoi Bradley, Shaliquah Fahie, Mahkayla Pickering and Omar Walker Photo: BVI Platinum News

Demoi Bradley, Shaliquah Fahie, Mahkayla Pickering and Omar Walker
Photo: BVI Platinum News

Four basketball players from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have made the list of 13 youngsters from the Caribbean and Bermuda who will participate in what is being called an authentic National Basketball Association (NBA) experience, which will be held from December 6 to 10 this year in the United States.

A total 63 players were vying for the qualifying spots.

The four qualifiers from the BVI are Omar Walker who was also adjudged the Boy Free Throw Champion, Mahkayla Pickering who also emerged the 3-Point Champion (Girls), as well as Demoi Bradley and Shaliquah Fahie.

There are also four qualifiers from Bermuda – Kobie Reid, Caelin Peters, Ish-Nae Smith, and Jorel Smith.

Barbados, which was declared the Team Shooting Champion, has two qualifiers. They are Ivanna Odle and Tower Lorde.

Remy Brewer is the only person from Trinidad and Tobago who qualified for the NBA experience.

Turks and Caicos Islands had one qualifier – Wilkins Sylvain.

The only other country that made the qualifying marks is Antigua, which is being represented by Anthony Greer.

Meanwhile, although some of the youngsters were not selected among the top 13, they received special awards.

Those include the Sportsmanship Awards, which went to Joshua Lowe, as well as Shernaria Morris. The Boys 3-Point Champion is Lincoln Weeks, while Siyaunne Hall emerged the Girls Free Throw Champion.

The competition for the top 13 spots was held through an initiative dubbed Digicel NBA Jumpstart Elite Camp, held at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in the BVI from October 7 to 9.

The Elite Camp featured the top 63 players – 45 boys and 18 girls – from the Digicel NBA Jumpstart Clinics held in nine Caribbean countries this fall.

That leg of the programme – which is now in its second year – took place in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Turks and Caicos Islands.

The young players were picked from those countries to attend the final selection exercise in the BVI, where the group of 63 was narrowed to 13 by Digicel and the NBA.

The coaches at the camp in the BVI were seven-time NBA Champion Robert Horry, 1977 NBA Champion and former NBA head coach Lionel Hollins, as well as two-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins.

 

Lady Bulldogs, Kings, And One are Basketball Federation National League 2016 champs

By VINO

Newly crowned champions of the BVIBF National League, Kings receive their trophy from Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Newly crowned champions of the BVIBF National League, Kings receive their trophy from Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

In an unprecedented night of excitement and action on Saturday August 13, 2016, the British Virgin Islands Basketball Federation’s National League drew to a close with clean sweeps across all three Divisions in the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town.

First up, the Lady Bulldogs cruised past the Rams to secure the Women’s Championship and then And One

Lady Bulldogs take the 2016 BVIBA National League trophy. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Lady Bulldogs take the 2016 BVIBA National League trophy. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

made it a 3-0 clean sweep of the Stingers, winning game three, 79-70, to secure the Championship in the Junior Division.

In the Senior Division, the Legs, looking for a fourth consecutive title, were cut down to size by the Kings, who made it a 3-0 clean sweep series, taking game three, 80-73.

And One made it a 3-0 clean sweep of the Stingers, winning game three, 79-70, to secure the Championship in the Junior Division.

 

And One secure the BVIBA National Leage Championship in the Junior Division. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

And One secure the BVIBA National Leage Championship in the Junior Division. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

National Basketball League playoffs tip off on August 5

By VINO

Mad Mix and Stingers do battle during the early rounds of the National Basketball League in Road Town. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Mad Mix and Stingers do battle during the early rounds of the National Basketball League in Road Town. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The playoffs in the National Basketball League are all set to begin on Friday August 5, 2016 in the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, following the conclusion of the regular season last week.

In the playoffs, action starts in the Junior division with Mad Mix against And One and then the Stingers take on Another Level. Game 2 and Game 3 are scheduled for Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6, 2016.

In the Senior Division, the Kings face All Ah Wee in game 1 on Friday and game 2 takes place on Saturday before Legs play the Skulls, with game 2 scheduled for Sunday August 7, 2016.
If necessary, all playoffs will have deciding games on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

Results from last round of Regular Season games
Law and Order beat Krown Heights 65-64, with Al Leonard scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds. Dreston Ciaton added 12 and Timron Mickie 11, whilst for the Heights, Tyreses Maduro had 20 points, William Bridgewater 19 with 13 rebounds and Kahleel Anthony picked off 17 rebounds.

The Legs beat the Spartans 119-58, with 28 points from Ryan Alfred, 25 from Kennedy H. Bass, 22 from Dione M. Blyden and 21 from Franklyn L. Penn, who also picked up 9 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Spartans beat Law and Order 80-44, with Rakeem Turnbull notching 19 points, Ronald Antoine 17 and Jamal Turnbull 15.
All Ah Wee beat the Skulls 78-72, with Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Malone notching 22 points, Steve E. Parillon 12 and Author Titley 11. The Skulls were led by 21 points from Glenal Layne, who also picked off 11 rebounds and 20 points from Bodean Samuel.

Zero Tolerance beat Law and Order 91-71, the Rams knocked off the Eagles 63-50, with Mahkayla Pickering scoring 21 points, Claury Scatliffe 18 and Keithreece Smith 16. For the Eagles, Gertrude Thomas top scoring with 21 points and Briana Brewley added 12.

In the final game before heading into the Post Season, the Legs had a forfeit win over the Skulls.

The Championship series will begin August 12, 2016 and will be completed by August 19, 2016 at the latest, which is the day before the scheduled start of the Hon Julian Fraser/Save the Seed League.

Mad Mix stun Stingers in BVIBF National League

Photo by Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Photo by Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

By VINO

The Basketball Federation’s National League came alive last night, Wednesday June 15, 2016, when Mad Mix repelled the Stingers, 84-81, in front of a small crowd at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex.

The Stingers had routed all previous opponents with a star studded line up of young exciting talent, but found a determined, disciplined Mad Mix in no mood to put up with losing and showing they were not in awe of their illustrious opponents.

The Mix, who have Kevon S. Lettsome as their head coach and Vancito E. Pickering Jr as the assisant, also have some key players and on the night the likes of Kimron Telemaque, Jahkeele Stevens and Stephon Caul more than matched the likes of D’Moi M. Hodge, Noel Maxwell, Ajai Frett and Tyler Cameron.

The Stingers led by 2 at the end of the first quarter, 14-12, but down by 1 at the half, 38-39 and from there the game opened up into a fierce end to end battle.

Mad Mix opened up a 3 point lead at the end of the third quarter, 58-55 and led by as much as six points during a frenetic last 10 minutes. With just over 60 seconds remaining it was a 1 point game, 79-78 and Hodge put his team ahead by one following a block, a steal and a basket, all in one flowing move from paint to paint. However, Mad Mix were not to be denied and went ahead by one with 30 seconds remaining following a visit to the charity stripe by Caul.

With 4 seconds on the clock and just one chance left for the Stingers a quick inbound pass and move saw Maxwell’s attempted 3 pointer bounce back off the rim and Mad Mix had won.

Stevens top scored with 20 points for Mad Mix, Caul added 19 points with 11 rebounds, Telemaque 11 points, Hakeem Penn notched 10 with 8 rebounds and Jamoi Dore tallied 8 assists.

For the Stingers, Hodge picked up 22 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists, Cameron 15 with 10 rebounds and Omar Walker 19 with 15 rebounds.

Other results

The BVI Basketball Federation League had a full slate of games over the last week, including the league’s first ever women’s contest on Saturday June 11, 2016.

And Oe topped Another Level 67-41 in the junior division, Krown Heights defeated the Spartans 67-61, and the Kings clobbered Law and Order 134-50.

On Saturday, the night kicked off with the junior division Stingers defeating Young Starz 93-60.

That was followed by the first ever ladies game, with the Lady Bull Dogs notching their first win in a 47-38 contest against the Rams. Alanah Chalwell, Joy Victor and Tamara Phillip all scored in the double digits for the Lady Bull Dogs, and Rams player Shauliqua Fahie led all scorers with 14 points.

The night was topped off All Ah Wee topping East 73-59. All Ah Wee player Aubrey Daniel led all scorers with 22 points.

Two games took place Sunday 12, 2016. In the junior division, Mad Mix beat down the Celtics 103-67, and Legs demolished Zero Tolerance 112-39.

Bulldogs hold off charging Rams as BVIBF Women’s League gets underway

By VINO

Joi Victor on the attack for Bulldogs. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson / VINO

Joi Victor on the attack for Bulldogs at BVIBF Women’s League opening game. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson / VINO

After 40 odd years the BVI Basketball Federation (BVIBF) finally got a Women’s League underway as on Saturday June 11, 2016, the Bulldogs beat the Rams 47-38 at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex.

Whilst the first game of the night had featured another one sided win for the Stingers, the ladies game was an evenly matched seesaw affair between a bunch of talented female players.

On one side was the younger Rams, most of whom are part of the U16 squad in training for a tournament in Guyana, and on the other a more experienced cadre of girls, but it was the youngsters who stormed into an early lead, 17-7, to be up by ten at the end of the first quarter.

With bench rotations coming into effect and the likes of Joi Victor and Chelcey Hodge changing the dynamics for the Bulldogs, the deficit was almost wiped away by half time and the Rams led by just one , 22-21.

The game was still anyone’s and it was hard to tell who the quickly swelling crowd were backing, but at the end of a racous third quarter the Rams led by two at 30-28.

With Victor playing basketball like a high speed ballerina and Tamara Phillip solid under the rim at both ends of the court, the Bulldogs slowly began to overhaul the Rams and saw a 19 – 8 quarter see them over the line.

Phillip finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds, Victor 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals, Alana Chalwell 10 with 16 rebounds.

Shauliqua Fahie top scored for the Rams with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 assists and 4 steals, Claury Scatliffe notched 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Mahkalya Pickering also scored 8 points and added 3 steals, whilst Myka Walwyn grabbed 8 rebounds.

Another Level and Legs win Basketball Federation League openers

Photo by Charlie E. Jackson

Photo by Charlie E. Jackson

By VINO

The British Virgin Islands Basketball Federation (BVIBF) launched its National League on Saturday June 4, 2016, with defending champions Another Level and Legs both recording resounding wins at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town.

Playing the first game after the Opening Ceremony, which saw the Sports Minister Honourable Myron V. Walwyn officially declare the season open, Another Level beat Young Stars, 80 – 62.

For Another Level, Deangelo Sampson top scored with 21 points and 15 rebounds, Kevaughn Robin added 13 points with 7 rebounds, and Joash Victor notched 13 points and 8 steals, whilst Malique Wattley finished with 11 points.

For the Young Stars, Tafari Winchester scored 18 points, Dequante Dabreo 11 with 6 rebounds, Kishawn Willey 11 with 9 rebounds, 5 steals and Oscar Herara 10 points.

“We realised since 2014, when we tried to bring the league, that there was a lot going on in basketball and it was a disaster, with even the Government stepping in to help get things going. However, although there was no league we hosted the CBC Championship and realised we were heading into a transition period with some players getting older and less competitive. Our mandate for this league is to focus on younger players and help prepare the U16 Boys and Girls teams for a tournament in Guyana,” commented BVIBF President, Guy L. Malone.

Legs stride past Kings

To round out the opening night, Legs cruised past Kings, 81-70.

Khalid Gerrard led the way with 28 points, 8 rebounds, Kitwana Rymer scored 11 points with 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, Franklyn L. Penn Jr scored 10 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and both Kennedy H. Bass and Jason A. Edwin hit 9 points, with Bass adding 5 rebounds and Edwin 10.

For the Kings, Kelvin Samuel scored 22 points, 16 rebounds, 13 assists and 3 steals, Sean Woods 12 points, 6 rebounds, Juan Richards 8 points, 9 rebounds and Cedric King 8 points, 7 rebounds.

Wins for Stingers & All Ah Wee

On Sunday June 5, 2016, the Hon Myron V. Walwyn sponsored Stingers routed the Celtics, 109-68, with D’Moi M. Hodge notching 35 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, 13 assists, 3 steals. Tyler Cameron added 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, Amari Maduro 13 points, 4 assts, 5 steals, Requan Minott 12 points, 4 rebounds, Ajai Frett 12 points, 4 assists and 4 steals, Noel Maxwell 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and Omar Walker 9 rebounds.

For the Celtics, Tyrell David picked up 15 points, 8 rebounds, and Kemoi Walters 11 points, 6 steals.

All Ah Wee then finished the weekend’s action with a 101 – 55 demolition of Zero Tolerance, with Steve E. Parillon grabbing 31 points, 5 rebounds, Jevon K. Serrant 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals, Nat Malone 12 points, Enrico Harrigan 13 points, 13 rebounds, Travis Isaac 9 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals, Jolyon Wilson 9 points, 8 rebounds and Aubrey Daniel 9 points, 4 rebounds.

Zero Tolerance were led by Nigel Carey’s 21 points, 11 rebounds and Roger Farrington’s 9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Ahjan Doward finished with 5 points, 9 rebounds.

Women to compete in League for first time

For the first time ever the League will feature 3 teams of women.

“It’s very exciting,” noted Malone. “At the CBC we pushed hard for a senior women’s team and although we didn’t win many games we won the hearts of many of the other teams there. The women played with heart, spirit and no little skill, so it’s very encouraging for our growth to see them competing in a league format.”

West Gunners & Splash Brothers Reach Basketball League Final

Photo courtesy of VINO

Photo courtesy of VINO

By VINO

West Gunners have booted defending champions Bayside Blazers out of the 3rd edition of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League and will be playing Splash Brothers in the League Championship.

The Gunners prevailed 97-80 in a hard fought game 2 to win the West Division Championship on Saturday October 31, 2015 at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom.

Splash Brothers won the Eastern Division Championship with a 80-74 points over Knights in game 2 also on Saturday.

Parillon comes big in losing effort

Faced with a revamped defensive tactical plan, the Gunners had cause for concern into the second half, but it would soon prove to be putting too much pressure on draft pick and former college player Steve E. Parillon to carry the Blazers offensively, especially once Dione M. Blyden went quiet.

Parillon opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and was hot all night until the final period, ending up with 27 points and 9 rebounds.

Bjorn Caleb notched 21 points with 16 rebounds, Ray D. Victor had 26 points with 7 assists, Rowan Victor finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 7 steals and Demoi Hodge 24 points, including 8 in a crucial final quarter after hitting 13 in the first period and only totaling 4 in the second and third periods.

Keenly contested first half

The first quarter had ended 29-24 to the Gunners with Hodge and Rowan Victor responding to the early lead taken by the Blazers, courtesy of Parillon and Blyden.

Blyden ended with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 steals. During one period the Gunners had been 7 points ahead but Sekayi J. Petersen soon reduced the gap to just 3, combining with Shaquille T. Fonseca on a series of scores before West Gunners hit back through Hodge, the Victor brothers and Caleb.

Sandy E. Nadal, who finished with just 5 points and little playing time throughout the game, notched a “3” to bring the Blazers a little way back into the game, but closing the gap seemed almost impossible for the Blazers who were always playing catch up.

Ray D. Victor went 2/2 from the free throw line, Jahmarli James rolled in another two and a big block by Caleb on Jamiez A. J. Stoutt seemed to knock the wind out of the Blazers early in the second quarter. However, Parillon battled away, splashed another long range effort and powered his way into the paint to score again, reducing the deficit to 5 points, where it stayed until just after half way through the quarter.

Then with 3 minutes remaining until half time, the difference was just one point.

Parillon missed both attempts from the free throw line which would have given the Blazers the lead. Petersen also missed a field goal attempt to do likewise, but Blyden made no mistake and scored to put the defending champs up 44-42, with a “3” and two minutes left on the clock. The Gunners leveled with 1:26 on the clock and the Victor brothers combined on an intercept to make it 46- 44. Petersen leveled it at 46-46. The Gunners responded with a field goal to make it 48-46, but the game Parillon notched another “3” to put his side up 49-48 at the half time whistle.

Gunners press on

The Gunners were soon back in front early in the third quarter, but the lead switched back and forth as no team was able to put a scoring streak together. It was all square with just over six minutes to play and another Parillon “3” made it 57-55 to the Blazers with 5:41 left.

Petersen added another score to equal the biggest lead for the Blazers since the first quarter and Shaquille Fonseca then gave them their biggest lead of the game, 4 points, which was extended to six points, before Caleb and Ray Victor reduced the gap to just 2 points with 2 minutes to play.

Parillon notched his fifth “3” to re-open the lead to five points at 64-59, but Ray Victor went 2/2 with free throws to make it 64-61 inside last 60 seconds. A Technical Foul saw Blyden make it 65-61, Ray Victor splashed a “3” to make it 65-64 and then the same player stole to score and the Gunners scored again after Lyle W. Duggins was caught in possession to reach the final break 69-65 ahead.

The Gunners were still ahead by four points after two minutes of the fourth quarter but then Blyden reduced it to a two point game. Hodge went 1/ 2 from the free throw line to make it a three point game. Rowan Victor netted 2/2 to make it 74-69 with 7 minutes left, Ray matched that to make it 76-79 and then Rowan stripped the ball from Blyden and scored to make it 78-69.

Fonseca made it a 7 point game from the free throw line, but Hodge responded with a driving run and scored and Caleb scored to make it 82-71 into the last five minutes of the game. Rowan Victor scored either side of another Parillon effort to make it 86-73, Fonseca made it 86-75, but Hodge, not to be outdone, increased the lead to 13 points with a field goal with just three minutes left.

Hodge then drew a foul as he scored to make it 90-75 with 2:22 left.

Goodbye Blazers!

Petersen added a two, but Ray D. Victor would have the last laugh as he scored again with the crowd on their feet, singing “good byeee” and it was all over.

Hodge and Parillon exchanged “3’s”  (Parillon’s 5th ), the final score, 97-80 and the rejoicing had begun, albeit only until next week, when the West Gunners face Splash Brothers for the 2015 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League Championship.

Western Division MVP, Ray D. Victor was quick to praise his team and the Blazers for a tough Divisional Championship series.

“It’s a great win and I feel extremely happy, but the journey is not over yet and the rejoicing will be short lived. The Blazers are a great team and they played a hard game. They are a smart team with smart coaches and their tactics tonight shocked us. They changed things around and made us think for the first couple of quarters. My brother Rowan was so aggressive and that’s the reason I wanted him to play for us, oh my gosh, he is our best player. Hodge was a little off tonight, but I told him to keep going and he came up big when it mattered at the end.”

Splash Brothers overcome Knights

In the Eastern Division Championship, Splash Brothers made a clean sweep of Knights by winning game 2, 80-74.

MVP Shamoii A. Dagou led the way with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while Charlesworth George knocked in 19 points, Ashfield Frett 17 with 16 rebounds and Travis Issac 15 with 13 rebounds.

Jevon K. Serrant had a game high 26 points for Knights.