The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The CC Sweeting Cobras and the CI Gibson Rattlers proved why they are two of the best high school teams in the country.

Even though they are preparing to face their suspension from the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association when the senior boys basketball season resumes this month, they played in the final of the Providence Basketball Classic that completed its 2012 Tournament at the Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday night.

The Cobras, coached by Mario Bowleg, prevailed with an impressive 91-77 triumph over the Rattlers, coached by Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson.

“It’s always a nice, clean competition when we play CI Gibson. We always get up to the task to play them and they get up to the task to play us,” Bowleg said.

“The last battle they won. We won this one. It’s always an up and down battle. At the end of the year, we get to see who gets the edge over the other one. This is our third time winning it. We won it the year before last. They came back and beat us last year and we came back and beat them this year. This is what you get from the coaches and the players, to play the best. We proved that we are the best. We were the better team tonight and we won.”

Bowleg, however, believes that the GSSSA will be at a loss when the regular season resumes because the fans will not get an opportunity to really see the two best teams go head-to-head after they were suspended for a fight that erupted in their season opener at the DW Davis Gym in November.

After the game, both teams gathered at half-court, held hands and talked about their rivalry. They then parted after Wilton Johnson, brother of Kevin Johnson and an assistant coach with the Rattlers, said a word of prayer. It was a good show of sportsmanship between the two teams.

The Cobras, who advanced to the final with a 58-57 nipping of the Grand Bahama’s Eight Mile Rock Bluejays in their semifinal game, surprisingly opened a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Rattlers, who earned their berth with their 92-83 win over the Dame Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, managed to close the gap to 27-16 at the half.

But in the third quarter, CC Sweeting was able to open as much as a 20 point lead, despite CI Gibson traling 51-33 at the end of the period.

Both teams managed to get into foul trouble. That carried over in the fourth quarter and even though the Rattlers made a dent into the lead, the Cobras still prevailed with a double digit margin.

Forward Rashad Davis, who played about 27 minutes, had 23 points with 16 rebounds, two assists and as many steals to earn the most valuable player award. Guard Alvano Miller exploded for a game high 28 points with 11 rebounds, eight steals and five assists. Both Dave Davis and Dionte Strachan had 10 points.

“We just went out there and did what our coaches told us to do, play hard,” Davis said. “We knew that the game was going to be tough, so we just played our game.”

On being named the MVP, Davis noted: “It feels great. The whole team played well for us. I was just glad that I won it.”

For the Rattlers, Oatman Lightbourn and Kristan Francis both had 16 points and Wilton Strachan had 11. Shakwon Lewis, who ended up leaving the game with an injury, and Shamir Rolle added six apiece and Quincy Poitier, Rohann Adderley and Carlis Carey ll chipped in with five.

“CC Sweeting came with some great intensity and they took it to us early,” said CI Gibson’s coach Kevin Johnson. “They played an excellent ball game. But we missed far too many free throws and CC Sweeting capitalised on that. They dominated the game from start to finish and they soundly beat us.”

Johnson, however, said he was delighted that his Providence Basketball Club was able to provide another opportunity for the high school teams from both the private and public schools as well as Grand Bahama and the Family Islands to participate in a tournament during the yuletide season.

“All of the teams that participated will only get better,” he said. “We also had a scout in town, who was able to review the talent and the good thing is that he intends to call some of the coaches to offer scholarships to their players, which is important, to help these young men to see the vision and the dream of playing at the collegiate level.”

Bluejays 42, Mystic Marlins 37

In the match-up for the third place consolation prize, Eight Mile Rock, coached by Quincy ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, took the title to Grand Bahama as Keanyu Woodside led the attack with 12 points. J’Von Calderon also scored 12 in a losing effort.

“I felt good about the performance. Everybody tried hard. We were under-manned. We only had nine players so we were tired,” Woodside said. “We couldn’t do anything about it. We played our hearts out. It was a good tournament. We feel good about it. We just fell short because we didn’t have sufficient players.”

Woodside, however, said they will definitely be back in February for the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic for senior boys “bigger and better.”