Valley Renaissance, Lake-Collet battle to a draw
Good evening, I’ m James Adderley and thanks for joining this Christmas package of Sports Monday.
Week fifteen of the Belize Bank Super League football tournament brought Valley Renaissance to the M.C.C. Grounds to face Lake-Collet Survivors yesterday as the mad dash to make the post season continues. In the opening minutes we must say the visitors show no fear as Rodney Sanchez turns on this ball that ends up in the hands of goalkeeper Glenford Chimilio. At the other end, Kevin Rowland uses his left foot in response but Woodrow West collects easily. Again, Kevin Rowland gets a look at goal but his cheeky chip this time is collected by a fully stretched West.
In the meantime, poor defense allows this ball to reach Leonard Valdez whose punch sails over the crossbar from pointblank range denying the Valley the lead. In heavy traffic, Brandon Young launches this shot that has the pace but not the trajectory to move the scoreboard. Talk about being unable to keep your ball down, Rodney Sanchez should have done better with this particular chance. Of course, we must give Leonard Valdez his props for this nice turn around release but it certainly doesn’t fool Chimilio. Folks, we’re into the final minute of the first half when Harrison Tasher outruns the Lake-Collet defense and his deft right foot push gives Valley Renaissance a 1-nil lead to take into intermission.
When play resumes the visitors immediately look for more off this vicious spot kick from Karim Peters but Chimilio handles the situation. In the meantime, this corner kick from Paul Bradley provides a chance for Dennis Myvette to use his height but West takes that opportunity away. Off the subsequent corner kick, that wily veteran David McCauley Sr. gets to show off his offensive range but it doesn’t impress the scoreboard. It’s Lake-Collet Survivors in the ascendancy when Kevin Rowland attacks right side to release this bomb but it’s right at West. Folks, let’s just say this save by Chimilio is the baddest of the ninety minutes as Dwayne Sampson fresh off the bench gets all of it. Not to be outdone, Woodrow West struts his stuff to deny this close range power punch from Kevin Rowland. It’s late in the ballgame when Javon Parham gets this chance to double the Valley lead but this offering won’t get it done. Now it’s Tasher’s turn to ensure the Valley win but the ball inches outside the far upright. This particular situation comes back to harm them because on the very next play, Paulie “Mr. Fabulous” Bradley times his run perfectly to push the ball into the net and force the 1-1 regulation tie at the eighty-fifth minute.
In other action around the league, Kraal Road shook up Texmar in a 2-1 finish. San Felipe Barcelona beat up on Tsunami by that same score while Lucky Strike and Cayo South battled to a 3-all stalemate. Week sixteen’s schedule will be fully played out on Sunday, twenty-eighth December. Tsunami takes on Texmar Boys out at Caye Caulker, Cayo South will be inside Roaring Creek against Lake-Collet, San Felipe Barcelona travels to the Carl Ramos for a date with Valley Renaissance and Kraal Road F.C. will host Barrio Fino at the M.C.C. Grounds.
Checking the Belize City first division football results, Police Street edged Ebony Lake 2-1, Fabers Road and Mayflower Street settled for a 1-1 tie, Police Street handled the Police Department in a 4-3 score and Kraal Road crushed in a Kelly Street 6-2 blast.
Turning to the basketball scene, two teams were eliminated from the six team Maxi-Basket at the City Center yesterday. Kevin Seroki came out with a hot hand from three point range in the opener, hitting four en route to seventeen points. Seroki hits another one right here to lead Old Cemetery over Belmopan in a 71-53 blow out. Compton Speedy Staine helped out in the big W with thirteen points. For Belmopan, Clive Sutherland struck for the game high twenty-one points but now Belmopan has been relegated to the sidelines.
In the nightcap B.W.S. Bulls ran off the first eight points of the match up against the number three seed Classic Purex but couldn’t hang on. Andrew “Jewboy” Robateau had a lot to do with it as here he sinks the much needed put back. Robateau would score the game high of seventeen points and twelve rebounds as Classic Purex drops B.W.S. Bulls 62-46. B.W.S. Bulls have now gone to pasture.
Meanwhile, the four teams remaining come out to play on the fourth of January inside the City Center and you will want to be there. The number two seed, Old Technical Rebels, takes on the number three seed, Classic Purex, and the number one seed, undefeated and two time back to back champion, Alberts face the number four seed, Old Cemetery in the nightcap. Hey, it’s gonna be big so be there.
Of course, we’ve gotta say right now have a safe and enjoyable Christmas Belize. That’s it for now though. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
