The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Basketball Association’s season got in full swing with its first double header of the season at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

Pyramid Food Rockets - 90

Double R Services Cleaners - 88

A new look Pyramid Food Rockets showed off their depth with six players in double figures as they edged out the Cleaners in the 2014 season debut for both teams.

Tied at 87 with just over one minute left to play, a crucial technical foul call proved to be the deciding factor in the outcome.

After the tech was called on Jonathan Edgecombe, Barry Carter made a technical foul free throw and Jamal Knowles followed with a basket on the ensuing possession to give the Rockets an 90-87 lead late.

The Cleaners missed five of six free throws in the game’s final minute, including two from Tamiko King, who had a chance to tie the game with 18 seconds left on the clock.

David Taylor led the Rockets with a double double - 20 points and 10 rebounds, Knowles finished with 16 points, Prince Brennen added 14 points and seven rebounds, Christorr Stuart added 13 points, Carter scored 12 and Tamko Moxey chipped in with 11.

Jamaris King led the Cleaners with 19 points, Dax Evans had a perfect night from the field on 9-9 shooting to finish with 18 points and nine rebounds, Jorann Adderley added 13 and King scored 11.

Neither team shot the ball well from the field, with just two makes from beyond three-point range in 28 tries, but the Rockets moved the ball well with 22 of their 39 field goal makes coming off assists.

Defensively they forced the Cleaners into 28 turnovers and scored 25 points off those turnovers.

In a tightly contested fourth quarter, neither team led by more than three points.

The Rockets opened the game on a torrid 12-2 run after Knowles made a layup with 7:18 left to play in the quarter.

The Cleaners responded with a 14-4 run of their own to tie the game at 16 on a jumper from T King but the Rockets still led 27-24.

The second quarter belonged to the Cleaners as a pair of free throws from J King in the waning moments trimmed the deficit to one (42-41) at the half.

That momentum carried over into the third quarter when the Cleaners took a seven-point lead (59-52) at the 4:46 mark.

An 8-0 run by the Rockets put them back ahead, however the Cleaners went on to win the quarter 31-26.

In the fourth, the Cleaners’ P Thompson went to the line and missed a pair and the ensuing scuffle for the rebound led to Edgecombe’s technical.

The Cleaners return to the court 7:30pm November 17 against the MailBoat Cybots while the Rockets are slated to face the Rhythm Rebels 9pm November 21.

Island Luck Pros - 89

Rhythm Rebels - 84

A 23-point turnaround in the fourth quarter propelled the Pros to an impressive win to open their season.

The Pros entered the fourth quarter trailing by 13, but scored a game high 34 points in the period to eventually take a 10-point lead of their own en route to the win.

Adorn Charlow finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Pros while David McPhee added 18 points and Kevin Wright Jr chipped in with 11 off the bench.

The Rebels’ starting five each finished in double figures, but their bench added just eight in the loss.

Henry Burnside led the Rebels with 25 points, Deangelo Duncombe added 16, Ricardo Smith and Kramer Taylor each finished with 12 and Devon Brennen finished with 11.

The Pros entered the fourth trailing 68-55 but Wright would begin the rally almost immediately with a three-pointer on the opening possession.

It would spark a 15-0 run capped by a rebound and putback from Charlow to give the Pros a 70-68 lead with 6:19 left to play. Their lead would balloon to as much as 10 when D Ferguson made a three-pointer from the wing for an 87-77 lead at the 1:40 mark.

The Rebels trailed 15-19 after the first quarter, but both teams were deadlocked at 40 headed into the half.

The third quarter saw the Rebels move ahead by 13 when they outscored Island Luck 28-15.

Despite being outrebounded by two, the Pros still held a huge advantage in second chance points (17-6) and scored 21 points off turnovers.

The Pros are scheduled to face the Commonwealth Bank Giants 7:30pm November 15 while the Rebels will search for their first win in the 9pm nightcap against the Real Deal Shockers.