The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NOW a staple on the Christmas season’s sporting calendar, the Providence Holiday Basketball Classic continues to expand in its 2015 edition.

The tournament tipped off on December 27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium featuring over a dozen top senior boys’ squads throughout the country.

Approximately 20 teams are taking part in the event ranging from teams based in the capital to Grand Bahama, San Salvador, Abaco and the United States.

The San Salvador Caciques and Redemption Academy out of Rhode Island, New York, opened play on day one, while the St George’s Jaguars out of Grand Bahama highlighted play on day two.

For the past few editions, the tournament has come down to a battle between the CI Gibson Rattlers - current defending champions - and CC Sweeting Cobras.

Rattlers head coach and tournament director Kevin Johnson said the tournament has featured a high level of play thus far.

“The tournament is going great, the teams are battling hard and most of the teams are evenly matched in terms of fair play,” he said. “I think that anybody can win. A team that plays good basketball, cuts down in turnovers and makes their shots down the stretch and really focuses on the defensive end, they have a chance of winning this tournament. It’s up in the air and it makes up for a good tournament.”

The aforementioned Redemption team out of Rhode Island features several Bahamian players on its roster looking to stay sharp during the break from the season and school year. It is one of the factors Johnson hopes will help the growth of the tournament.

“I hope we get more local teams to compete. I definitely want to get more US teams in the tournament and add more quality and depth to the tournament. We have a ton of young players playing high school basketball in the US. It gives our local high school players a greater sense of understanding the importance of working hard and getting better if they want to get at that level,” he said.

The Rattlers claimed back-to-back titles. Prior to that the Cobras won the title in 2012.

“It’s all about keeping the young men busy. They want to play the game of basketball at this time and give themselves an opportunity to be seen by these scouts so hopefully somebody will be seen and that’s the whole objective to give our Bahamian kids an opportunity,” he said.

“It provides exposure for scholarship opportunities, the more reps you get the better. It keeps their game sharp going into the second part of the season. It keeps these guys out of trouble. Instead of being idle and doing foolishness in their neighbourhood, they are playing basketball and trying to get better at their craft. You have about 20 teams, that’s about 300 guys occupied, in the gym competing.”

Play is slated to continue at CI Gibson Gymnasium 9am today.