The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Early in the season, both New Providence Women’s Basketball Association powerhouses appear on a collision course for a rematch of last year’s championship series.

Both the defending champion Bommer G Operators and runners-up Career Builders Lady Cheetahs, cruised to blowout wins in NPWBA action Tuesday night.

The Operators more than doubled the COB Lady Caribs, 66-34, in the opening game of the evening. Chrishanda Rahming led the Operators with 18 points, while Vernisha Moss added 12 points and eight rebounds.  Sasha Ferguson came off the bench to finish with nine points, while Malesha Peterson added seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Celeste Pyfrom was the only Carib to reach double figures with a game high 19 points, while Latoya Silver added eight points and six rebounds.

It was an effort on the defensive end that was the difference for the Operators who limited the Caribs to just 25 per cent shooting and forced 25 turnovers. They limited COB to just four points in the paint, two second chance points and four points off turnovers.

The Operators held an 11-rebound advantage on the boards, won the assist category 24-5 and recorded 10 more steals. They also scored 18 points off turnovers.

A slow start to the game offensively for both teams, the Operators led just 11-7 at the end of the first quarter. They opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run and outscored the Lady Caribs 27-5 in the period to take a 38-12 lead at the half.

Ferguson’s jumper with less than a minute left to play in the third gave the Operators a 30-point lead, 56-26.

In the nightcap, the Cheetahs would crush the Defence Force Waves by 41 points, 74-33. Linda Pierre led the way and was one of four Cheetahs’ players to finish with at least nine points. She finished with a game high 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Phylicia Kelly nearly finished with a triple double - 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Kissie McDonald and Audrey Martin each chipped in with nine points.

Anastacia Sands-Moultrie finished with six points and a game high 12 rebounds. Chrisliann Percentie and Nakera Rolle each finished with eight points to lead the Waves in a losing effort.

The Waves came out strong in an opening period which featured three ties, but the Cheetahs would close on a run to take a 19-13 lead after one.

Career Builders opened the second on an 11-7 run and led by double figures for the first time when a Pierre free throw gave them a 30-20 advantage. They took a 15-point lead into the half when Latoya Thompson made a three-pointer with 11 seconds left in the half, 39-24.

Defensively, the Cheetahs held the Waves to just nine points in the second half. They shot 44 per cent from the field, 73 per cent from the line and dominated with 23 points off turnovers.

Tonight, the Cheetahs are slated to take on the BIAS Stingers at 7:30pm, followed by the Super Value Cybot Queens against Dee Saints at 8:30pm.