Ball Bouncing Sports Update with James Adderley

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.

Game II of the National Female Football Championship travelled to the Carl Ramos Stadium on Saturday where the Dangriga Pumas played host to Suga City Girls who came in with a one game lead after last week’s convincing 4-1 victory in Game I. The visitors look to strike early again when Nathalie Macias sends this ball into the danger zone. Goalkeeper, Sherean Vasquez mishandles the ball but does recover before any damage is done. However, it’s the home team who open the scoreboard when Ashanti Velasquez’s shot is kept out by Jessica McCullock—Nykinah Kuylen’s 1^st attempt at goal is turned back by the O.W. defense—but there’s no stopping her 2nd attempt as Dangriga Pumas boast a 1-zip lead some 20 minutes in. a few minutes later, Ashanti Velasquez gets this chance to double the lead only to fire a left foot that rises.

Folks, the home cooking seems to do wonders for the Pumas as Dorita Ramos out runs the Suga City defense to double the Dangriga lead at the 30th minute. It’s more Dangriga Pumas when 4 minutes later; Dorita Ramos displays her prowess as a striker with this right foot punch that makes it a 3-zip ballgame. The Suga City Girls then look to pull one back when Macias picks out Noriely Terry with this pass but she can’t come up with the final touch to make it count. However, it’s off the set piece that the visitors get on the scoreboard when the Dangriga defense fails to make a routine clearance—Sheyla Reina pounces on the loose ball to make it is a 3-1 score. We’re in early 2^nd half play when Ashanti Velasquez gets this open look at goal and indeed she should have moved the scoreboard on this chance. The Pumas continue to push the action and Nykinah Kuylen puts this ball too close to Jessica McCullock to make it count. However, on the very next offensive press, Kuylen outruns the defense and beats the keeper to make it a 4-1 score and we’re virtually tied in aggregate out 5 goals apiece. Kuylen then looks to put her team in the lead with this offering only to be denied by the crossbar. At the other end, the usually steady Gisel Baeza looks to put Suga City back in the lead but instead unleashes a high riser. Ernalyn Nunez gets her chance to give Griga the lead with this attempt that sees McCullock make the save. Now here’s the biggest goal of the series and it comes from Gisel Baeza who mounts this individual effort and beats Sherean Vasquez to make it a 4-2 final score. Thus Suga City Girls grab the title in a 6-5 aggregate and we say congratulations to the new National Female Football Champion.

Turning to the basketball scene, the Interoffice League opened the 2012 Season at Big Bird’s Isle Friday night and we join the opening match as the Ministry of Education boasts a 3 pt lead over our Tuff and Nuff. Kurt Burgess hits 2 free throws to make a 5 pt lead with 3:45 remaining in the ballgame. But hold everything folks, this bucket by Ashton Edwards ties the ballgame at 47 points apiece. Kurt Burgess picks up this shot that drops short to give M.O.E. a 49-47 lead. Stephen Williams then knocks down this 3 point shot to put Tuff and Nuff ahead by 1. The dread Domingo goes glass for 2 as M.O.E. regains the 1 point lead. Now watch Edwards find Stephen Williams and he knock down the 3 point shot as Tuff and Nuff wins in a 53-51 final score.

In cycling news, we caught up with stage II of the Weekend Warriors stage tour yesterday as 15 A riders suited up for the 30 mile ride from Burrell Boom to the junction with the Northern Highway and then swing back to finish at Leslie’s Imports on the Western Highway. We go to the finish and it’s Luigi Urbina of C-Ray grabbing the win, James Frampton of Santino’s takes 2^nd, Ernest Meighan also of Santino’s finishes 3^rd while Liam Stewart of M&M rounds out the top 4.  Now here’s the sprint for the B and C Class win: Roque Matus of M&M grabs the Win, Leroy Vargas of BWS pulls up 2^nd and Mark Reid of Zitro rounds out the top 3. Leading in the A Class after 3 stages is Liam Stewart, Luigi Urbina is 2^nd and Raymond Hyde is 3^rd—this is after 3 stages. In the B & C Class: Roque Matus leads, Edward Villanueva is 2^nd and Leroy Vargas 3^rd. meanwhile, the Festina Cancun race staged in Mexico over the weekend saw Byron Pope take 1^st place, Brandon Cattouse was 2^nd and Herman Requeña finished 5^th. Kaya Cattouse and Kera Eiley finished 1^st and 2^nd respectively in the female race.

Finally in Volleyball news, the championship series for the male and female titles get off on Thursday at the Belize Elementary Auditorium with Moen Stars facing Lady Jaguars and Home Protector Rebels go to work against Jaguars.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.