National Male U-17 Basketball Team Secures Historic Bronze Medal
Over the years, Belize’s national basketball teams, at all levels, have been unable to advance beyond regional tournaments. That was until Sunday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The National Male Under-Seven Basketball Selection will go down in our history books as one of the first national basketball teams to defy the odds. Going into last week’s FIBA Under-Seventeen Centrobasket Tournament as underdogs, team Belize secured bronze and proved that it is a force to be reckoned with. News Five’s Paul Lopez has some highlights from Sunday night’s third place game inside the Civic against Mexico, courtesy of the National Channel and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Sunday night was a historic night for basketball in Belize and it all unfolded inside the Belize City Civic Center. We have some highlights for you all courtesy of The National Channel and International Basketball Federation.
The starting whistle is blown and there is the tip to start off this third place game. Mexico takes control of the ball. Number fifteen for Mexico with the drive and he is stopped by Douglas Langford. Elijah Favela with the ball, the ball is passed out to Ian Parham Jr. on the arc. Parham at the free throw line puts up the jump shot and makes it count. Favela is at the top of the free throw line. He jumps off the dribble and makes it look easy. Four minutes left in the first quarter with Belize up by four points. Favela finds Devin Moody under the basket. He misses the reverse layup, but Langford is right there to clean up. At the end of the first quarter, Mexico led the game twenty-one to seventeen points.
In the second quarter, Favela passes to Moody, back to Favela, ball to Langford who finds Michael Caceres under the basket for the easy layup. Sixty minutes and forty-seven seconds left in the half. Favela with the drive, finds Tevaughn Dawson under the rim. And, that is a bucket for team Belize. Two minute and forty-four seconds left in the half. Favela controls the ball. Langford gets it at the half-court mark. Back to Favela who tries to force the pass to Lanford. Mexico reads the play, but an effort by Parham gets the ball into Langford’s hand for the dunk finish. Dawson to Moody at the three-point line. Moody with the drive and the finger roll to complete the play and make the basket.
Going into the second half of the match, Mexico is ahead of team Belize by three baskets. Dawson finds Moody at the three-point line once again. Moody goes in for the drive and makes it count. Seven minutes left in the third. Moody, with the rock, finds Favela, who goes down low to Langford. He bullies his way in for the basket. With just over two minutes left in the third, Moody pushes the ball down the court, finds Favela, passes to Dawson across the court, Dawson with the drive to put Belize up by three points. Dawson again with the assist from Moody, he goes strong to the rim and it’s good.
At the top of the fourth quarter, it is Favela with the quick three-pointer and the foul putting Belize up by double digits. With five minutes left in this one and Belize up by twenty, Wilford Dawson goes up for the shot and its good. Belize would go on to win the match eighty-seven to Mexico’s seventy-two, securing a historic bronze medal. Belize’s six foot, nine-inch guard, Douglas Langford was also named to the U17 FIBA Centrobasket All-Star Five.
Douglas Langford
Douglas Langford, Bronze Medalist, U17 Centrobasket Championship
“We were always the underdogs. A lot of people rooted us not to win and tried to say we didn’t have talent and for a team just coming together playing the first scrimmage against Panama and making it this far, that is top notch. We never competed against any other team we just scrimmaged against ourselves. So playing against the competition we didn’t know what to expect. But the chemistry, the love, the brotherhood, that is what brought us together and we executed.”
Paul Lopez
“What number of offers are you at right now?”
Douglas Langford
“Nine, I got my ninth one last night.”
Paul Lopez
“You committed to anyone as yet?”
Douglas Langford
“Not yet, not as yet, I haven’t made a decision.”
Tevaughn Dawson
Tevaughn Dawson, Bronze Medalist, U17 Centrobasket Championship
“Well firstly, my mom and my dad played basketball also, so we grew up around a family that loves basketball, sports in general. We live right by the complex in Orange Walk. So, I go there put up shots and get better.”
Paul Lopez
“What does the future look like for you? I saw you having a discussion on the phone I think with a high school.”
Tevaughn Dawson
“The future looks great. We were talking to a school in Houston, hopefully I get over there and play you know.”
Jacob Leslie
Jacob Leslie, President, Belize Basketball Federation
“I think you can see in my face, I am exhausted. It has been a tough, challenging time leading up to the tournament. But to get on that podium all the hard work was worth it. I think the guys are excited. They performed well and I am just proud to be a Belizean right now.”
Paul Lopez
“I think it is important to stress the fact that when you put young men on platforms such as these, they are exposed to unimaginable opportunities.”
Jacob Leslie
“What we have found is that since the tournament we have gotten a lot of calls from certain schools who are interested in them, both high school and colleges and this is what we want. We want to create opportunities to give our kids the exposure cause we know once we do that the doors will open for them and they will do the rest.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
