The Tribune

By BRENT STUBB

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Temple Christian Suns went on a scoring rampage as they highlighted day one of the Providence Basketball Club’s Phil Smith Basketball Challenge at the CI Gibson Gym on Monday.

The Suns stunned the St John’s Giants 24-1 in the first half and they breezed to an impressive 43-3 rout as the four-day tournament kicked off with mixed results in the other four games.

Hillcrest Academy, making their debut playing their first game ever, surprised the Queen’s College Comets 38-2 in another lop-sided victory. The first game was also a blowout as Genesis knocked off Queen’s College 31-11.

However, there were two nail-biters as the Kingsway Academy Saints nipped Blairwood Academy 27-25 and Christian Academy held off St John’s B 22-20.

The St Bede’s Crushers were scheduled to play the feature game but they won by default.

The tournament is being organised by Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson to help promote the future stars of the game and to keep the memory of the late ZNS sportscaster Phil Smith alive.

Suns 43, Giants 3

Najee Winder went on an offensive tear, scoring 12 points as Temple Christian opened a 20-1 advantage at the end of the first half. Winder finished with a game high 24 points.

The Suns, who used their entire 12-man roster, also got five from Rolian Saintelus, four apiece from Lamar Watkins and Taleo Bethel and three from Tito Bethel.

“This one is our first one since December, so we are just trying to get our feet underneath us,” said Suns’ coach Keno Demeritte. “We are just trying to get back into gym shape and so we hope to be ready for the rest of the tournament.

“But the way they look, I think we can be one of the two teams in the championship game. We just have to work on the odd things like knowing where our defensive stand is and where each man is supposed to be. Once we get that down packed, we should be okay.”

The Suns smothered the Giants, who got just a free throw from Reagan Bethel for their only point in the first quarter. Their only two points in the second half came from Marvin Basden on a lay-up.

Hillcrest 38, QC 2

For a team that never played a basketball game before, Hillcrest looked like a veteran squad. Nicholas Strachan scored 12, including six in both halves, Norman Bandelier had 12, including eight in the second half and Chaz Moss helped out with eight, six of which game in the first half.

Although they got a huge win, coach Sylvia Arnold said the team is capable of playing much better. “They played pretty good,” she said. “But I expect them to be in the playoffs, even though we are new to this.”

Arnold said coach Stephen Strachan has spent a great deal of time over the last few weeks preparing their team, so she wasn’t surprised about their debut.

“I’m sure tomorrow (today), they will even play much harder,” she said.

The Comets got two free throws in the first half from N Sergent in a losing effort.

Genesis 31, Queen’s College 11

As they opened a 19-8 decision in the first half, Genesis got eight points from C Kelly, E Bain had six and D Robinson five as they opened the tournament on the right foot. Kelly finished with a game high 10, Robinson had nine and Bain chipped in with eight.

For the Comets, N Armbrister had seven and Riki Carroll four.

Kingsway Academy 27, Blairwood 25

Burton Rodgers hit a buzzer-beating jumper for the game winning shot for his only points in the game.

Ashton Webb, however, led the attack with a game high 22 points, including 11 as they led 13-12 at the half.

McAlister Smith had the other two points in the period.

Blairwood got 13 points from Zyle Smith and Richard King had eight.

Christian Heritage 22, St, John’s B 20

Kyden Cash completed a three-point play to seal the deal for Christian Heritage. He ended up with a game high 14 points to help as they rallied from an 11-8 deficit at the half.

Marleek Storr also had three in the second half. Triston Isaacs scored seven and Donte Ferguson had five in the loss.

The tournament is slated to continue 3:45pm today with the defending champions Our Lady’s Blue Flames and Carlton E Francis, another top ranked team in the country.

The championship game is scheduled for Thursday.