The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Dominica Police team, back for their fourth appearance in the Law Enforcement Basketball Tournament, finally showed some poise as they won the opening game on day one of the week-long event at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.

Dominica pulled off a stunning 57-42 victory over the Prison Challengers team. After trailing 11-10 at the end of the first quarter, Dominica surged ahead 30-15 at the half and they held onto a 45-35 margin at the close of the third period.

“It was good. We haven’t done that well in the past, but this time the guys really came out and were determined to play,” said Dominica’s head coach Bernard Mills. “We had a game plan and we stuck with it. We tried to stop a couple of their guys and we succeeded.”

Dominica got a 1-2 punch with a game high 30 points with seven rebounds, six steals and four assists from Bernard Mills, while Craig St Rose followed with 19 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

Gary Bethel was the lone bright spot for Prison with 19 points and eight rebounds. Both Pedro Clarke and Seiko Farrington had eight points.

Following the game, the official opening ceremony was held. The night concluded with the Bahamas Police playing the Bahamas Defence Force and the Turks & Caicos Police played the Cayman Islands Police in the nightcap.

The tournament is slated to continue 6pm Tuesday with another triple header, inclusive of the Bahamas Prison against the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas Defence Force versus the Dominica Police and the Bahamas Police against the Turks & Caicos Police.

There are a total of six teams, three from the Bahamas and three visiting, in the tournament that is scheduled to wrap up on Saturday when the consolation game is played at 5:30pm followed by the championship game at 8:30pm.

Prior to that, there will be a high school game and All-Star game between the East and the West at 4pm.

Tournament organiser Paul Smith said he’s excited about this year’s event. “I think this year will be better than the previous years,” he said. “I think we will have more support because we did a better job of marketing. Plus, we will have a Legends game on Friday night when the veterans from the Police and the Defence Force will play against each other.”

As for the teams participating, Smith said they only have three countries from the Caribbean represented this year, but it’s going to be a real showdown with the local teams who are eager to keep the title here.

Additionally, the three-point shooting and slam dunk competition have returned and will be contested on Friday at 6:30pm. The Legends All-Stars is set for 9pm Friday.