Weekend Sports Wrap Up with James Adderley
We open tonight’s show with the showdown in Central Secondary Schools Sporting Association Male Basketball play featuring the 2 powerhouses from inside Belize City—Wesley College and St. John’s College, two perennial rivals. Kyron Samuels gets Wesley College going early attacking the run to go glass and he would lead Wesley College with 12 pts. Kirkland Lambey then winds his way through traffic for 2 of his 9 game points. Elden Gladden spins away from Welton Bowen—the bank is open—Gladden puts up 6 for the game. At the end of the first, Wesley has ran to a 16-4 lead. In the second, SJC try to stir themselves; Gregory Felix grabs the rebound off the miss by Jason Phillips—the put back is good—Felix would strike for 6 game points. Did Samuels call bank on this jumper? Well the bank was open. Elden Gladden spots from beyond the arc—the triple lands. At the half, Wesley College would boast its biggest lead of the ballgame in a 35 to 13 score. In the 3rd, Llewellyn Gentle tries to put SJC on his back and here he picks up 2 of his game high 13 pts. On the next press, Gregory Felix finds Jason Phillips who sinks 2 of his 8 game points. This time down court, Welton Bowen dishes to Kenton Young and he gets 2 of his 6. Bowen comes back and this time, he penetrates to finish with a good looking floater. He would put up 6 pts. SJC had its best quarter with 18 pts, but at the end of 3, the scoreboard shows Wesley College with a 52 to 31 lead. SJC would outscore Wesley College 15 to 10 in the 4th quarter, but it proved to be a case of too little too late as Wesley College goes on to post the 62 to 46 big win.
However, Wesley College was denied the sweep as St. Catherine Academy dominated the Wesley girls in a 31 to 9 final score. Kristy Terry who hits both these free throws scored 5 of Wesley’s nine pts. Indie Dixon was the game high scorer knocking this jumper for 11 big time points in the win.
Turning to the table tennis scene, the 2015 B.N.E. Junior National Championships staged yesterday at the BES Auditorium saw Taye Parkinson roll past Latrell Solis for 18 and under title while Jaylen Nicholson wrested 3rd place away from Joshua Gegg. At 15 and under, Amiri Hoare beat Latrell Solis for that title and Terry Su prevailed over Jaylen Nicholson. Taye Parkinson took the 12 and under title away from Samron Pott with Terry Su edging Aiden Arnold for 3rd place. Latrell Solis and Joshua Gegg to take the doubles category title while Taye Parkinson and Luis Bardalez settled for 2nd and Eric Li and Sergio Glory finished 3rd.
In the volleyball scene, the National Female U-18 turned on the pressure in the finals to roll past the defending champion, Protect Our Manatee to grab the national title. After outlasting Protect Our Manatee 25-21, 22-25, 15-10; they had to play a winner take it all match having lost in the first round to Stars A. In that showdown, the U-18 team vanquished the opposition 25 to 21 to emerge as national champion and we say kudos. On the male side, Jaguars of Belize City repeated as champion against Challengers of Orange Walk coming out of the losers column to beat Challengers 25-21, 22-25, 15-10 and then in the must win match 25-21. We say good show to Belize City’s Jaguars.
In football news, the female 9-a-side championship was finally decided yesterday at Chan Pine Ridge in Orange Walk when Yo Creek Gladiators entered the area against Guinea Grass Chelsea. We’re late in 1st half action when Miriam Villamil works her way through the Guinea Grass defense to find Vanessa Mai who turns to the left to fire a grass head burner that finds its way into the back of the net. Yo Creek lead 1-nil. Off this defensive miscue by Ruby Mai, Maricela Pott gets the perfect opportunity to level the score only to be denied by the Yo Creek keeper, Rocio Bobadilla. Noriely Terry gets the chance to get Guinea Grass unto the scoreboard with this header but again Bobadilla handles the business. We go to 2nd half play and its Karen Garcia looking to ice the game for Yo Creek; she beats one to fire at goal. It brings a stretch from Shany Betancourt as the ball inches outside the sticks. Nevertheless, the 1-zip score holds up as Yo Creek Gladiators conquer the OW female 9-a-side title.
In the battle for 3rd place, Atlantic Bank got this goal from Eloisa Moreno to take a 1-nil lead over Chan Pine Ridge. When Delmi Cornejo centers into the box, Arvella Torres concedes the auto goal to make it a 2-zip lead for the bank. Chan Pine Ridge only goal comes off this set piece triggered by Frenelli Barrilla which finds the head of Arvella Torres who makes amends for the auto goal. The score remains 2 to 1 at long whistle and Atlantic Bank takes 3rd. Best goalkeeper in the league was taken by Shany Betancourt of Guinea Grass; Karen Garcia of Yo Creek took home MVP honors and Gisel Baeza of Guinea Grass had the most goals scored.
Meanwhile, play in the PLB Tournament over the weekend saw Placencia Assassins and Belmopan Bandits rally to a 1-1 tie at Independence while Verdes FC blanked a struggling Wagiya 5-zip. Looking ahead, 2 back matches and a completion of week 10 schedule this weekend will bring regular season play to its natural conclusion. On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Verdes FC faces Belmopan Bandits at the F.F.B. and Police will battled the B.D.F. at the Norman Broaster Stadium. Week 10 gets off on Saturday at Independence with Placencia facing Wagiya while at the F.F.B., Belmopan Bandits will battle the B.D.F. On Sunday, Verdes FC and Police face off inside the Norman Broaster to complete regular season play. Going in, Police United and Placencia Assassins are tied at 15 pts apiece and are assured of making the 4 team playoffs. The Bandits show 14 and Verdes 12 respectively. The Bandits need a draw for surety while Verdes FC could well need another win. The B.D.F. with 8 pts has 2 matches that could give them 14 pts. At 4 pts, Wagiya FC is out of the playoff picture.
In cycling news, we take you to the start of the Weekend Warriors 58 mile RV Ramos Classic that runs from Dangriga to the Placencia Junction and back to Dangriga. 6 miles into the Placencia Road, Mark Reid, Douglas Lamb and Preston Martinez have jumped to a 25 second lead. By the time the race reaches Maya Center Village, we find the main pelathon still chasing the lead three. On the way back, Vallan Symms attempts a solo flight, but simply cannot shake off the chasing pelathon. We’re now inside Dangriga and this finish is a cyclist’s nightmare. While accelerating, Warren Coye’s wheel slips and he crashes to the asphalt. His Santino teammate, Kareem Flowers crashes into him and takes a fall. Robert Mariano of Digicell 4G avoids the crash and rolls in for 1st place. Dean Belisle of BelCal pulls up in 2nd; dave Yearwood of Lampaz holds on to 3rd place while Kurt Sutherland rounds out the top 4. To the right of your screen, you see one cyclist riding over Kareem Flowers on the ground and he joins the fall Flowers. We understand Kareem Flowers suffered a shattered collar bone in 3 or 4 places, while Warren Coye wound up with a broken shoulder. We received confirmation from Santi Castillo, Owner of Santino’s Cycling Club. In the C-Class, Chris Berry of Truckers took top honors. Eustace Ireland of Lampaz 2nd and Lawrence Craig of Truckers rounds out the top 3. Steven Castaneda, Ridzen Flowers and Tevan Salazar finished 1, 2, 3 in that order in another category.
