The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@triobunemedia.net

With the game on the line, centre Ira Farrington stepped up big time to help the North Andros Seminoles make their return to the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic a successful one.

In the highlight of the first session of day two Tuesday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Seminoles overpowered the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors 63-61. It was the first victory for a Family Island team and the first loss for a Grand Bahamian team.

North Andros’ victory came just after the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves held off South Andros 39-38. In the first game played, the man-shortened CR Walker welcomed the Acklins Stingers into the tournament for the first time with a 46-20 rout.

Seminoles 63,

Warriors 61

Ira Farrington powered his way inside for a jumper to tie the score at 52-52 for North Andros with three minutes and 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter as they rebounded from a 52-40 deficit at the end of the third.

Two minutes later, Farrington’s three-point play completed a three-point to push the Seminoles up 61-57 before Rick Russell canned a three-pointer to trim Bishop Michael Eldon’s deficit to 61-60. Farrington then hit a jumper at 1:07 to put the Seminoles up for good 63-60 as Russell missed a three-point attempt.

Farrington then dribbled out the clock as North Andros celebrated with the victory.

“They started playing basketball in the fourth quarter,” said Seminoles’ coach Danny Pratt. “In the first three quarters, it was just ridiculous. We took a year and a Sunday to get the chemistry together.

“I guess they were probably nervous because this was the first time that we played in Hugh Campbell for a long time. Hopefully we will knock off all of the cobwebs and don’t be so nervous when we play our next game.”

North Andros trailed in the first three quarters - 15-10 in the first, 16-15 in the second and 21-15 in the third. But they turned things around as they out-scored Bishop Michael Eldon 23-9 in the fourth to pull off the win.

Tereak Moss had a side high 20 points with five assists and four steals, while Farrington finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two block shots and a steal. Tameko Rolle added 16 points with four rebounds.

Tavaris Marshall had a game high 22 points with seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Chavez Fernander had 13 points and two rebounds and Rick Russell had 11 points and five steals in a losing effort.

Timberwolves 39,

South Andros 38

With just 0.6 seconds left in the game, Antonio Sands hit one of his only two free throws to seal the deal for Anatol, who had to come from behind from a 14-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter for the win.

The keenly contested game came down to who made their free throws as both teams made some costly turnovers in the fourth quarter that saw the Timbervoles outscore South Andros 9-7.

In the last minute, both teams traded the lead before Sands got the job done.

South Andros’ coach Aaron Rolle said he was disappointed in the officiating because he wasn’t given the time out when he requested them to set up his plays. But he said they will learn from the experience.

“We have our backs against the wall, so we have to come back strong,” he said.

While Brandon Williams had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Anatol, Michael Davis and Kenneth Pierre both had seven points.

For South Andros, Denzel Jenoure had a game high 15 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals and a block. Brendon Rolle had 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist and his twin brother Brandon Rolle chipped in with four points.

Knights 46,

Stingers 20

This game was over from the first quarter as CR Walker jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and pushed it to 15-2 at the break as Acklins got a buzzer-beating jumper from Travis Hanna to avoid getting blanked.

The Knights, playing with just eight players, held their opponents to just three points in the second as they took a commanding 27-5 advantage at the half. And in the third, they went on a scoring 17-1 rampage for a 44-8 lead at the final break.

But in the fourth, it was the Edhram Miller show as he came through with all of his 12 points, the first three on a three-pointer to put them in double figures (45-11) and the last one on a free throw for the final margin with 0.4 left in the game.

“It’s a regular thing that I do,” said Miller of his performance.

As for the team’s performance, Miller felt they did “good, but we could have gotten back on defence. We played a good game, but CRWalker just played better than us today. It’s our first time down here, so we just came out to have some fun and see what we can do.”

Acklins’ coach Lacricia Swann, a former teacher at Government High School, said despite the loss, she was very proud of their performance. “I told them after the first half that although the score was 27-7, if they could give me 20 points, it was a victory,” she said.

“We are excited. You have not heard the last of Acklins. I’m there to work and trust me, some athletes will come out of Acklins.”

CR Walker’s coach Trevor Grant said coming into the tournament he had to downsize his team because of two season-ending injuries to two point guards and a few seniors who were not prepared to be disciplined anymore.

“I’m impressed to a certain extent, but a lot of things that we worked on, they didn’t execute them,” Grant said. “We didn’t box out and go to the basket strong, but I see a lot of hope for this team in this tournament.”

Grant said he was more elated, however, by the efforts of Acklins.

“My hat goes off to them. I just, I can go down there and help them,” he said. “All I see is the women coming here with the teams. I’m wondering what’s happening with the men. If the women don’t take control, they won’t have any programme. It’s ridiculous. So I’m happy for them.”

Andrew Smith had a game high 17 points, two assists and steals to lead CR Walker. Keith Ferguson had seven points and eight rebounds and Kyle ‘Flash’ Turnquest contributed seven points, five assists and a block.

Edhram Miller had 12 points, two assists and two steals for Acklins. Timeko Campbell had four points, four rebounds and Travis Hanna finished with two points and two steals.

• The tournament is slated to continue at 1pm today.