The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ERIC Gordon came up big down the stretch as the Bahamas pulled off a hard fought 82-75 victory over Argentina to win the FIBA Americas Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament title yesterday to earn their berth in the 2024 Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament next year.

Before a jammed pack Argentina crowd in the National Sports Arena on La Banda, Argentina, the Bahamas proved their 101-89 win over the world’s number fourth ranked Argentina in their Group A round robin play was no fluke as lightning struck for the second time.

After Sunday’s victory, the team was presented with their boarding pass after taking down Argentina as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg was on hand to join in the celebrations.

The team, coached by Chris DeMarco, an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association, produced its best showing ever in international basketball competition.

It came from arguably the best team assembled by the Bahamas Basketball Federation, team manager LJ Rose and assistant coaches Moses Johnson and Mikhail McLean as the Bahamas is now on the verge of having its first appearance in any team competition at the Olympics.

Bahamas 82, Argentina 75

Gordon, the latest addition to the collection of NBA players to participate on the team, provided the spark as he canned a game high 27 points, including three clutch three-pointers down the stretch, to go along with three rebounds and as many steals in the championship game on Sunday.

Travis Munnings, who plays professionally in Europe, took advantage of his starting role with 16 points and two assists, Indiana Pacers’ guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield, who got into foul trouble down the stretch, had 15 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals and centre DeAndre Ayton, who will be suiting up with Gordon with the Phoenix Suns this season, added 10 points and 21 rebounds.

Collegian Franco Miller Jr contributed nine points and two rebounds off the bench, while fellow Grand Bahamian Kentwan Smith, who also plays professionally in Europe, had five points.

After using a 5-0 lead to start the game, the Bahamas responded to even the score at 5-5. It stayed close until Argentina went on a mini run to pull away from a 12-12 tie for a 17-12 lead. The Bahamas drew within two, 24-22, but Argentina stayed ahead 26-22 at the end of the quarter.

With 6:58 left in the second quarter, Travis Munnings canned his second consecutive three-pointer that equalised the score at 30-30, forcing Argentina to call a timeout.

The Bahamas then went up 39-32 as both teams went into a scoring drought and although Argentina trimmed it down to a 39-39 tie with just over a minute left, and they ended the first half tied at 42.

The Bahamas saw some delight in the first two minutes of the third as they went up 47-44 on a lay-up from Munnings on a pass from Lourawls Nairn, who returned to his starting role after going down with an injury the night before.

But Argentina pulled away from a 51-49 lead with 6:28 left in the period and they went up by four, 60-56, at the end of the third quarter. As they opened the fourth, Gordon hit a jumper for a 63-63 and Smith canned a three-pointer for a 66-65 lead with 8:21 left. A minute later, Hield scored on a three-pointer for a 69-65 lead.

Argentina converted a pair of baskets to go up 72-69, but Ayton got an offensive rebound for a two-handed jam to equal the score at 71-71 with just over three minutes left in the game.

Gordon stopped a brief run by Argentina with a three-pointer for a 74-73 lead in the next one. With 1:31, Gordon popped another three-pointer as the Bahamas again went up 77-75 with 1:32 on the clock.

And with 20.2 on the clock, Gordon crashed the final digger in the heart of Argentina with his third consecutive three-pointer for an 80-75 advantage after he got a steal and Ayton got a key defensive rebound on two possessions by their opponents.

Bahamas 78, Uruguay 62

Buddy Hield led a balanced attack on both ends of the court to lead Team Bahamas into the championship game on Saturday night.

In their semifinal match against Uruguay, Hield finished with 17 points, three steals and a pair of rebounds and assists, while Gordon had 13 points and two rebounds and assists and Miller Jr came off the bench and finished with 13 points as well.

Ayton, in limited action, had nine points and nine rebounds and Juraun ‘Kino’ Burrows also came off the bench and contributed nine points with two rebounds and as many assists. Team Bahamas got a scare early in the game when Nairn left with an injury. By then, the Bahamas managed to open a 15-5 lead that they extended to 23-14 at the end of the first break.

After building their lead in the second quarter, Garvin Clarke Jr canned a three-pointer with 4:56 on the clock for a 31-17 margin to force Uruguay to take a timeout.

The Bahamas pushed their lead to 43-23 at the half, thanks to a number of defensive stops and some miscues from the three-point arc by Uruguay.

As coach DeMarco switched up the line-up, using more players off the bench, the Bahamas opened a 59-34 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Using a 1-2 punch from Burrows and Bridgewater, the Bahamas took a 68-42 lead, forcing Uruguay to call a time-out as Bridgewater hit an air ball on a three-point attempt.

Uruguay rallied to cut the deficit to 68-51 and on a timeout with a little over five minutes left, the Bahamas went back to Hield and Gordon to help control the tempo of the game.

With 3:06 on a foul on Miller Jr, tempers started to flare as the referees and players tried to calm the situation down. Both teams were assessed technical fouls.

When the dust was settled, the Bahamas kept its composure and held on for the win.