CARICOM basketball moves toward semi-finals
The fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championships continue at Belize City Centre with 6 female and 4 male teams battling for top honors. News Five’s James Adderley updates us on last night’s action in the Shell CARICOM Report.
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to this edition of the Shell CARICOM Report.
The National Female Basketball Team went into day four of the CARICOM Basketball Championship looking for its first win. We join the action with Belize enjoying an 18-5 lead but it’s the Antigua and Barbuda with the possession as Dalia Clarke show persistence sticking in the put back. At the other end Belize answers with Enid Dakers stealing baseline for the leg up that’s good. From the top of the key Enid Dakers throws it up and it falls for the Belizean athlete. With some eight minutes to go the Antigua go on a run – the talented point guard Dalia Clarke deals to Anita Green who hits. The heavy traffic Candice Jones comes up with the loose ball and leaves it up for 2 and at the half Belize is up by 9.
In the second Belize gets off first with Enid Dakers dealing to Carolyn Lord for the easy 2. Pointguard Clarke finds Candice Jones as she sinks the pill. Still Enid Dakers finds Carolyn Lord down court and she makes it look easy as Belize goes up by 11. But here comes the run by the visitors. The Mighty Dalia Clarke goes to the left band and we know she called bank. Candice Jones deals to Clarke and 2 girl game gets 2 more. Dalia Clarke displays her range here knocking down the 3 pointer and maybe it’s time to box and one this thread. It’s all Antigua now and Indira Edwards helps the cause with this jumper.
Shelmadine Cacho breaks the run with this nice move as she lays it off the glass and just in case you don’t know how athletic Shelmadine is well check her clear these chairs. Folks it’s this 3-pointer from Dalia Clarke that ties the ballgame for Antigua at 42 points apiece. And it’s the same Clarke who hits the net from the other side to give Antigua and Barbuda the lead and they would never look back. This is the shot that seals the win for the visitors as Usher finds Jones and Antigua and Barbuda goes on to the post with 53-48 big “W”. Antigua goes to 1 and 2 while Belize has lost 3 in a row.
Meanwhile the nightcap finds 0 and 1 Jamaica in action against 2 and 1 Barbados and at the tip-off it’s Duvall Simmons jumping against Sidney Rowe and we’re underway. Point guard Ryan Leecock tries to open the scoring but it is the tip by Sidney Rowe that gives Barbados the 2-zip lead. Leecock then strikes for 3 as the Barbados team continues to roll early.
So the Jamaicans get busy – Julian Dunkly penetrates and hits the shot jumper. Hot shooting Dunkly displays his talent here, knocking down this shot. But Carlos Griffith responds for Barbados with a net. Down low Steve Johnstone fights for 2 and gets it. At the other end Sidney Rowe swoops in for 2 with this flash that gives Barbados a 7-point lead. Down court Duvall Simmons launches the three but at the half Barbados leads Jamaica by 10.
In second half, Rumeal “NBA” Robinson finds Simmons with a pretty dish and the 2 is automatic. Robinson then goes baseline for 2 misses and lay off the glass but Johnstone comes up with the put back. Meanwhile the nice feed from Floyd finds Yorke who gets 2 as Barbados maintains its lead. Jamaica comes back with this long press from Robinson, which leads to a dunk from Dunkly. Robinson then goes to the next possession and Jamaica is only down by 2.
However, this 3 pointer by Ryan Leecock is the dagger that destroys Jamaica’s chance at the win. Barbados goes on to win 63-58 while the defending champion Jamaica loses 2 in a row.
Sidney Rowe, Center, Barbados
“Againt Belize we had a bad first half because we really didn’t play a good team; we got bad in transition. But the coaches made us work the last two days very hard, training very hard and running nuff laps on the road. We ran about two miles every day. So we just came out tonight and try to get back. Last night when we realized that the big men weren’t really playing too good; it was mostly the guards. So we say that we going to hassle everyone; we’re gonna try to put more hassle on the guards. It’s all about hassling and playing good “D”.”
Barry Rock, Assistant Coach, Barbados
“I always knew we were gonna win this game. The first game we played against Belize we were totally, it was just a matter of the time factor. We were trying to adjust, and to play such a team as Belize that early I always think we will have problems. But we gonna win this tournament. Yeah we gonna win this tournament.
There are only four teams so normally all of us will be in the semi-finals and we’re gonna win this tournament. You see because my team right now with this game, tonight we were just trying to get our legs together and stuff but we’re gonna win this tournament and I’m sorry for Belize.”
Julian Dunkly, Forward, Jamaica
“I just think that we have to keep our head on the team and come in a play hard for the remaining games of the tournament. I think we have to start turning it around in the first half. We can’t wait until our backs are against the wall in the second half to turn it on. We out scored them in the second half and we just have to come out from the beginning and play basketball with intensity and with our heads and recognize who to go to with the shots and who not to go to with the shots. We just have to play smart basketball and when we have open shots we have to take them and stop playing like robots.”
Before closing we’d just like to say that Kevin Garnett, NBA player, will not be arriving as previously advertised. We understand he had an unavoidable delay.
Tonight the Reggae Boyz of basketball goes up against Belize.
That’s it for today’s Shell CARICOM Report. I’m James Adderley.
