Sports Monday with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley so let’s roll with another flavor of Sports Monday. The monster in B.F.L. Football was staged at the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday where 2 contenders tried to further their playoff ambitions in a 90 minute transaction.
In the role of host the Yabra Sporting Club observes the expected pre-game meeting with the visiting Jube team of Benque Viejo. However, it’s the visitors with the early offense, using this throw-in effectively but Dale Pelayo does not execute at the finish. Never look a gift horse in the mouth and Jube knows that now because it’s only nine minutes into the ball game when David “Manu” McColly mounts this individual effort to impress the scoreboard and give Yabra a 1-zip lead.
But when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, and #16 punches this right foot from long range which crashes behind a diving Willie Bo, and we’ve got a 1-1 ball game. Still there’s no “W” without some luck, and boy is Willie Bo the fortunate one here after he mishandles. Meanwhile the rains cool off the intensity a bit until this loose ball ends up at Ally Thurton’s feet and he gives Yabra a 2-1 lead at 1 minute to intermission.
Jube comes out pressing for the equalizer in second half but it seems today is Willie Bo day. Now here comes high drama, the Yabra defense hands the ball in the box for which the referee awards a penalty. Jube now has the clearer shot at the equalizer, up steps #13 only to be upstaged by Willie Bo with a perfect dive for the save. It’s another Willie Bo highlight when Dale Pelayo faces him one on one and again he penalizes. By the way, Willie Bo be careful on defense you might KO your own teammate.
Still folks the clincher for Yabra comes some 25 minutes deep. “Manu” McColly fires from the corner to give Yabra the 3-1 big “W”.
In other football results, Sagitun pummeled the Builders Hardware Bandits 6-2, Juventus dropped Verdes 4-2, La Victoria mashed up Southern United 5-1 while the 2 cellar-dwellers Acros and Jaguars battled to a 1 all stalemate at Dangriga.
Now let’s head to the City Centre for game 2 of the High School Basketball Championship where Excelsior High School is trying to defeat the series against Gwen Liz, Friday night.
The finish bucket of the ballgame comes by way of a baseline jumper by Marlon Alvarez of Excelsior who opens with an 8-zip run. In fact, the Excelsior crew seems to be too dominant for Gwen Liz as Bert Augustine gets 2 more with this lay-up. In fact the Excelsior team is so overpowering in this confrontation at around the middle of the half when Darwin Leslie sticks in the put back. Alan Lizaraga looks to come alive when Jermaine Barrow gets this 2 to fall but at the half it’s a 25-14 deficit they face.
Second half would bring little change. Donald McKay with the rebound, with the bucket, with visit to the charity strike. The banker from Tyrone Lamb adds to the Excelsior lead. Bart Augustine raises up in traffic for these 3 points and here’s the final play of the ball game and the celebration begins as the new Central Division Champion Excelsior High School takes game 2, 49-26 and we say congratulations. Good luck in the National Tournament slated for this weekend at the City Centre.
In female basketball play the Wesley College girls stunned formerly undefeated Pallotti High School 20-13 to force a decisive game 3 for the title tonight at the City Centre.
That’s it for Sports Monday. I’m James Adderley. Jah over all.
