The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After rebounding from their opening day loss by winning their first game by one point in overtime, the Bahamas women’s national basketball team continued their winning streak at the Caribbean Basketball Championships with a rout on Independence Day.

The Bahamas, coached by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, blew out Barbados 84-59 on Thursday in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to improve their record to 2-1 to advance to the semifinals today and a chance to qualify for the CentroBasket to be played in Monterrey, Mexico, July 22-26.

Shanea Armbrister had a big game, scoring 25 points with nine rebounds in 33 minutes to lead two other players in double figures for the Bahamas. Jonquell Jones, playing 32 minutes, had 14 points and a game high 12 rebounds, while Britenique Harrison came off the bench and contributed 10 points and four rebounds in 9:43 minutes.

The Bahamas also got six points apiece from Philicia Kelly, Ashley Moss and Debinique Knowles. As a matter of fact, all but Cedricka Sweeting scored as the Bahamas produced the lopsided victory.

After falling behind 13-4 in the first four minutes of the first quarter, the Bahamas called a time out, regrouped and turned things around. They eventually cut the deficit to 17-15 with 1:10 to go before the first break on a rebound and put back from Harrison, who had eight points and three rebounds in the period.

At the start of the second quarter, the Bahamas got a lay-up from Tracy Lewis for their first lead. They extended it to 23-19 with 7:45 to go on a three-pointer from Leashia Grant and by the half, extended their margin to 37-31.

The difference came when the teams came out of the locker room. Whatever McPhee-McCuin and her staff told the team worked. The Bahamas went on a 24-8 spurt as they widened their lead to 61-39. Armbrister put the explanation mark on the run as she came up with a steal and a lay-up just before the buzzer sounded.

The Bahamas inserted players in and out, running all sorts of combinations as they continued to apply the pressure defence throughout the fourth as they mantained their lead, despite the fact that Barbados was able to match them better basket for basket in a fairly close quarter that saw the Bahamas come out with a 23-20 advantage.

Bahamas nipped Dominican

Republic by one point

After losing their opening match, the Bahamas had to go right down to the wire before pulling off a 70-69 overtime victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night.

Jonquel Jones had a monster game with 23 points and a tournament high 27 rebounds. Shanea Armbrister had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Leashia Grant 10 points and 13 rebounds and Philicia Kelly nine points and five assists.

The Bahamas led 20-13 after the first quarter and 30-27 at the half. They went up 48-39 at the end of the third, but got out-scored 20-11 in the fourth as the game ended up 59-59, forcing the extra period. In the overtime, the Bahamas out-scored Dominican Republic 11-10 to seal the win.

The Bahamas lost their opener 56-51 in the tournament on Tuesday night.

The Bahamas now waits to see who they will play in the crossover playoffs today and a chance to advance to the championship game on Saturday. The Bahamas will need to finish in the top three in order to advance to the CentroBasket.