Football, basketball and volleyball stats in Sports Monday
Good evening I’m James Adderly and this is Sports Monday. Week 13 in the NEBL season saw the Corozal Heat show up at Sugar City Friday night with only 6 players suited up to face the OW Running Rebels. Both teams come in with identical records of 2 wins 10 losses. Marcel Richards gets Corozal going with this triple and would emerge man of the night from the point guard position. Alton Herrera then hooks up with Brian Gentle who sinks the bucket as the Heats continue to roll. In the meantime when Jason Grant deals to Alton Herrera he shows us why he is the league leader in 3 points scoring. Horris Patten then penetrates to get 2 more for Corozal. Jason Grant works the boards down low for 2 points. Now meet Sheldon Gentle who goes the length of the court to get this bucket and you’ve met all 6 players who suited up for Corozal. Of course we must give some respect to Randy Usher who banks it off this lay for 2 OW points because this young man is in the running for MVP honours and currently leads in the Index of success. However no way should a 6 man Corozal Heat defeat the OW Running Rebels 71 to 55 but they did and we say that’s big. Of course going in the Rebels had their own problems but that story is for another day. In other action around the league Belmopan Bandits beat up on Belize City Smart No Limit Thursday night 71 to 59. On Saturday the Dangriga Warriors stunned Sa Pedro Tigersharks 58 to 46 while the Cayo Western Ballaz escape with a 79 to 77 won over the Toledo Diplomats. Thus the standings after week 123 looks like this San Pedro and Cayo both show 35 points with identical 11 & 2 records, Dangriga is 8 & 5 with 29 points, Belize City also has an 8 & 5 record for 29 points, Belmopan 7 & 6 for 27 points, Corozal 3 & 10 for 19 points, OW 2 & 11 for 17 points and Toledo 2 & 11 for 16 points. Therefore the Dangriga Warriors, No Limits and Belmopan Bandits must all win their final regular season games to make it to the playoffs and only 2 can make it since San Pedro and Cayo are already in. Thus its many time for Belmopan when they travel West to face the Cayo Ballaz. The Dangriga Warriors will be at Big Birds Isle Friday against NO Limit of Belize City and both teams are fighting for their playoff lives. San Pedro Tigersharks will host OW Running Rebels and the Toledo Diplomats will finish regular season play at Corozal against the Heats.
Turning to the football scene, Game 1 of the PLB’s Belikin Closing Season finals unfolded at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium where Belmopan Bandits hosted Police United to kick off the 2 game series Saturday night. The Police look to open the scoreboard some 15 minutes in when Harrison Roches deals to Clifton West who gets past Tyrone Pandy to fire at goal only to see Woodrow West come up with a comfortable save. At the other end Norman Anderson picks out Jerome James whose header leaves a lot to be desired. Denmark Casey, Jr. then uses this set piece to find Elroy Kuylen who is failed by a bad first touch. In the meantime this 2 man game between Clifton West and Kafu Roches looks destined for big things until Kafu’s return to West is intercepted by Woodrow West and at the half we’ve got a scoreless ballgame. We’re in the opening minutes in 2nd half play when Danny Jimenez and Devon Makin work the give and go to perfection only to be foiled by a high riser from Makin’s right foot. The Police then gets this opportunity to open the scoreboard when Clifton West gets around Pandy to fire a right foot that was never going to find the goal. At the other end Denmark Casey, Jr. fires this sinker at goal forcing a monster save from Keith Allen but his push pout reaches Elroy Kuylen who passes to Jerome James and the easy tap in gives the Bandits a 1 – zip lead some 53 minutes in. The Police responded immediately off the second. Clifton West gets this ball in the danger zone, goalkeeper West comes off his line and is beaten by Clifton West but Dalton Eiley digs it out with a defensive header. 
At the 60th minute David Trapp picks out Jerome James with this set piece and his header embarrasses Keith Allen who is caught off his line. Belmopan goes up 2 – zip. Unfortunately for Police United the Bandits were not done yet. Dario Trapp again finds Jerome James off the set piece whose header finds Denmark Casey, Jr. streaking in from the right side and his left touch gives Belmopan a commanding 3 – zip lead, 67 minutes in. Devon Makin almost pulls one back for the Police when he beats Erick Rodriguez to find at the fore corner only to see Woodrow West come up with a big time save. Danny Jimenez then picks out Clifton West with this nice pass and indeed West should have done better the scoring chance. Danny Jimenez does get his chance to put Police on the scoreboard but Jimenez takes too long to fire at goal, enabling Dalton Eiley, Jr. to come up with his 2nd big time save of the match. Folks Police United needed to score at least one goal in this one because 3 nil is a difficult deficit to overcome in game 2. Game 2 is set for this Saturday inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium as Belmopan Bandits looks to win its 2nd PLB season in a row. The winner of this series will get to represent Belize in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League Competition.
In volleyball news, More Stars battled from 2 sets down Friday night inside the BES Auditorium to take 3 straight over arch rival and 2 time defending Lady Jaguars to win their 17th National Female Volleyball title on Saturday. They had won 16 straight before Lady Jaguars took 2 in a row and we say congratulations to Lupita Quan and Company. In the male side defending champion Jaguars also needed 5 sets to take the 2014 national title beating Rebels 25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 15-25, 15-11. Good show and we thank William Ysaguirre of the Reporter for the stats.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderly.
