James Adderley with the weekend champs in Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and here’s your weekly dish of Sports Monday. Week five of the Caribbean Motors Cup brought Paradise Freedom Fighters to the M.C.C. Grounds as they took aim at F.C. Belize who has climbed up to second place in the standings at this juncture. Five minutes in the host team looks for the early lead with this half volley that is kept out by goalkeeper Ray Arzu. The visiting team responds with this set piece triggered by Delvin Jacobs but it’s right at the keeper, Eldon Linares. On this press F.C. Belize’s Nigel Franklin fires this left foot into an empty goal but watch Ricky Picketts digs it out to keep the game scoreless. In the meantime, folks we’re positive Andres Makin would want this chance back as he squanders an open look at goal. At the end of a lackluster half we have a scoreless ballgame.
Fortunately, things pick up after intermission. We’re at the fifty-third minute when Jerome Archer picks out Delroy Andrews whose header crashes into the net to give F.C. Belize a 1-zip lead. Folks, Delroy Andrews had enough time to control this center from off the right wing but opts for the spectacular play that almost leads to a self inflicted injury. So Andrews looks for redemption off this long center from Ian Gaynair but he fails to connect properly to the effective. We’re at the sixty-second minute when Robert Martinez sends this ball into the danger zone, Jerome Archer outruns Devon Makin and F.C. Belize goes up 2-zip. A couple ticks of the clock later, Archer looks for his second goal of the match only yo see the left sail outside the sticks. Fresh off the bench Jeromy James eyes the goal when he picks out the far corner with this swing but Ray Arzu denies him with a good reaction. However, James would not be denied. The PG team makes an unforced error on this corner kick by under seventeen player Avian Crawford gives James this easy chance at goal which he converts at the eighty-second minute. We must say Leon Cadle should have made it 4-zip here instead he allows goalkeeper Ray Arzu to shine. The only question remaining in this ballgame is will the visitors get a consolation goal? The answer is a resounding no when they come up empty on this press. F.C. Belize gets all three points with the 3-zip W.
In other action around the league, the B.D.F. marched over Georgetown Ibayani 3-zip, Corozal Shanaiah got its first win of the season – a 2-1 blast over BRC Blaze, while the San Pedro Seadogs took a bit out of Hankook Verdes with a 2-1 big W. thus, the B.D.F. leads after five weeks with 13 points, F.C. Belize has 12, Georgetown has 9, Hankook Verdes and San Pedro show 7 apiece, Paradise Freedom Fighters have 6 points, Shanaiah Corozal 3 and BRC Blaze is in the cellar with 1 point.
Turning to the basketball scene, we’re in the closing moments of the junior match between Ghetto Ballers and Lake I Boys. Off this miss shot, Evan Thompson Jr. gets the offensive rebound and comes up with the put back to seal the 43-39 win for Ghetto Ballers. In the senior showdown, Belmopan Bandits bombed Ebony Lake 116-61; that’s a 55 point blowout. We’ve got the pictures but we couldn’t get inside the stats going to press time – not for lack of trying. On Sunday Creative Graphics took out Black Dynamite in an 87-68 final score. On the junior scene, the two out of towners came to the city and grabbed the W. OW Running Rebels rolled past Truckers 69-64 and the good looking Burrell Boom Celtics spanked Youth Hostel by all of 63 points in an 88-25 rout.
In softball news, Belmopan Comprehensive School totally dominated the National Secondary School Softball Tournament staged at Sacred Heart College over the weekend. Belmopan Walloped Independence High School 12-5 in capturing the female title while they took the male championships by edging Orange Walk Technical High 15-12. Congratulations to Jahna Trapp and Gilroy Hernandez who took the female and male MVP titles respectively.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
