The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Basketball Association, preparing for its crossover interaction with the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association on Saturday night since their separation in 2003, continued its regular season at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

In the double header played, the College of the Bahamas Caribs broke their losing streak to pull off an 88-78 win over the Rhythm Rebels, while the Double R Services Limited Cleaners turned the numbers of the Island Luck Pros as they held on for a close 74-72 decision.

• Here’s a summary of

the games played:

Caribs 88, Rebels 78

Justin Munroe came up with 18 points and two rebounds to lead the way for the College of the Bahamas. The Caribs led from start to finish after opening up a 28-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter. They extended it to 49-37 at the half and 72-55 to complete the third quarter.

Anthony Sands added 16 points with six rebounds and five assists, Justin Smith had 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and Reuben Goodman also had 11 points with seven rebounds. Ethan McKenzie had nine points and five rebounds, Alvano Laing had eight points and 11 rebounds and Glen Davis also had eight points.

Rythm got a 1-2 punch from Craig Buchanan with a game high 37 points, four assists and two rebounds and Devon Brennen added 29 points with six assists and five rebounds in a losing effort.

Cleaners 74, Pros 72

Lenny Oscar and Reyna Minus canned two big free throws in the final 44 seconds as they got their Rhythm for the close encounter over Island Luck.

Oscar hit the first of his two charity shots at the 44-second mark. Then with 12 seconds left on the clock, Minus converted the first of his two free throws for the final margin.

The Pros had a chance to at least tie the score and send the game into overtime but failed as Kevin ‘Dog Bite’ Wright’s jumper with three seconds left fell short.

Oscar finished with a game high 24 points and seven rebounds for the Cleaners. Minus had 13 points and six rebounds, Dax Evans 10 points and Rashad Woodside added nine points and 15 rebounds.

For the Pros, Livingstone Munnings had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Wright had 19 points and eight rebounds, Adorn Charlow 12 points and 17 rebounds, Jason Mitchell Jr eight points and seven rebounds and Derek ‘Bats’ Ferguson chipped in with six points and two rebounds.

While both the NPBA (tonight and Friday) and the NPWBA (Thursday) will continue their regular season, the two will merge to play a pair of games when they cross over at both the DW Davis and AF Adderley Gymnasiums on Saturday night. It’s the first venture between the two bodies since they broke away in 2003.

NPBA president Keith ‘Belzee’ Smith and NPWBA president Mynez Cargill-Sherman, said Saturday’s collaboration will be the first in a series planned for this year. They also hope to combine to put on the All-Star Classic at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on February 14.

In addition, there is a possibility that they can share playing time during their postseason.