The Tribune

THE TOP teams in Bahamas Scholastic Sports Association - the smaller private schools in the Bahamas - squared off this week in a battle for the coveted title of BSSA basketball champions. In the feature matchup of the playoffs, the pennant winning Teleos Christian Cherubims senior boys won the championship. They completed an undefeated season with a 47-35 victory over Hope Academy. In the first quarter, Teleos came out of the gate pressing and went on an early 8-0 run led by point guard Matthew Davis. However, Hope Academy came back in the second quarter to tie the game. At the start of the second half, Teleos played a zone defense and managed to recapture the lead by a four-point margin to end the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw both teams trading baskets while still keeping the score close with Teleos still on top. Teleos then went back into their full-court press and managed to take a six-point lead with just under a minute left to play. Teleos then came up with a key steal late in the game by Davis as he tried to push the ball up court but was fouled hard. Davis made both free throws to extend the lead to eight points. After that, Teleos made a few free throws as Hope kept fouling in an effort to stop the clock and stay in the game. Davis was the leading scorer with 24 points while Derek Adams chipped in with seven. For Hope Academy, Rickquille Bethel canned 14 points and Kishon Darville added six. Said Teleos coach Maurice Fawkes: "To God be the glory for without Him we are nothing. Our goal from day one was winning the championship. We prayed together as a team, we practiced hard as a team, we worshipped together as a team, we had obstacles as a team, and we won as a team. "This victory was special to me because we have had many obstacles this year from personal problems with players to our uniforms being stolen...but we kept on praying and we kept on fighting and was able to capture the victory. Hats off to Hope Academy and their coaching staff who gave us a great fight. "But I told my boys 'we have come too far and have worked too hard to lose now' and they stepped up to the plate. We made a few mental errors but that is expected with a very young team. Hopefully, we can do it again next year." Davis was named as the most valuable player. "The game started off at a fast pace for us with a big run due to our press but later in the game our defense was a bit shaky. We composed ourselves late in the game to secure the victory. Thank God first of all for the victory, thanks to my coach, coach Fawkes for disciplining us, training us, mentoring us, and teaching us plays to execute on the court, and to my teammates for co-operating with me." The junior girls' best-of-three series featured the pennant winning Freedom Academy against the Teleos Cherubims coached by Maurice Fawkes. The Cherubims, who won game one 10-6, lost game two 28-15. The series is tied at 1-1. Freedom Academy's Shelly Australee led all scores with 14 points and Briana LaFrance chipped in with nine. For the losing Cherubims, Andrick Curry was the leading scorer with 10 points. Game three is scheduled to take place at DW Davis gym today. The second game of the day saw primary girls' action between the pennant winning Mt Carmel and Trinity Christian School who shocked Mt Carmel with a 9-7 victory on Tuesday. Game two was another battle but Mt Carmel came up victorious with a 14-9 victory. Trinity's Alkeia Rolle had a game high nine points in a losing effort, scoring all of Trinity's points, while Davia Christopher led the way for Mt Carmel. The final matchup of the day featured the Teleos Christian Academy junior boys, coached by Fawkes and pennant winning Christian Heritage coached by Coach Taylor. This matchup saw Christian Heritage come out on a 10-0 run, showing their dominance early. Teleos called a time out and made a few baskets, ending the half down by 10 points. But in the second half, Teleos came storming back and tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Teleos then played some great zone defense and came up with a stop and a bucket to pull ahead by two points. Christian Heritage then came back, was fouled, and only connected on one free throw. Victory Teleos was then able to hold on to a one- point victory over Christian Heritage and steal game one in the best-of-three series with a score of 28-27. Adrian Mackey and Savanno Coakley led the Cherubims with 10 points apiece, while Stephen Humes also played a big role for the Cherubims, leading them in rebounds and blocked shots. "Thank God for the victory. But I know we will have to come out with our A game again tomorrow in order to win this championship because Christian Heritage has a great team. I told my boys once we box out we would be able to beat Christian Heritage whose team is bigger than ours, and we did just that in the second half along with playing a great zone defense," said coach Fawkes.