The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER an intensive search to come up with the right pieces in the absence of two key players, the Bahamas Basketball Federation has selected the 12-woman roster that will travel to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, for the Caribbean Basketball Championships this weekend.

The team was named today by head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. Back for her second straight sting, McPhee-McCuin will be assisted by first year coach Donnie Culmer and Varel Clarke-Davis, who will be returning for another year. McPhee-McCuin said the toughest part in the team selection was the final spot because there were at least three players whom the coaching staff could have chosen.

Based on their performances so far during the practice sessions, the following players have been selected to the team: Shalonda Neely, Latoya Thompson, Shanea Armbrister, Pedricka Bain, Philicia Kelly, Tracy Lewis, Ashley Moss, Malesha Petterson, Alberta Russell, Linda Pierre, Valarie Nesbitt and Diasti Delancy.

“We have a very young, but talented team, so hopefully we can use that to compensate for our lack of experience,” said McPhee-McCuin, the head coach of Jacksonville University. “Like I said earlier, we’re missing Jonquel Jones and Leashja Grant, but we feel we have added some players who we will have to rely on to make up the difference.”

Last year, the Bahamas lost its first game in the tournament only to go on to win the final four. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to get them into the medal round. But with some of the players returning from last year’s squad, McPhee-McCuin is confident that they can get the job done.

Latoya ‘Lil Thing’ Thompson, one of the oldest members of the team at 31, said even though they are missing players like Jones and Grant, they still have the potential to put on a great performance.

“We’re putting in the last details and just have to tighten up on our defence,” Thompson said. “I think we are going to do quite well. I know our goal is to go over there and get into the championship round. We want to qualify for Centrobasket next year, so we have to get the job done.”

On the flip side, Shalonda Neely, one of the youngest members of the team at age 17, is making her debut as a member of the senior team, but she has played on the past two junior national teams.

“I expect for all of the girls to put their best foot forward and for us to finish on top,” Neely said. “We have a good team. I think we have everything that we need. So we’re ready to go. Our practices have been good. We have been putting in the work and we are ready to go.”

Coach Clarke-Davis agrees that the team should fear very well.

“We don’t have the personnel of a Jonquel and a Leashja, but the girls we have are all eager and ready to play,” Davis-Clarke said. “I think the girls who went last year realise what it takes to play at this level and they are going to be better prepared mentally and physically, so we’re looking for some good things from this team.”

While he didn’t travel last year, coach Culmer said he followed the team’s performance from start to finish and he was impressed with what he saw.

“I feel good about this team. I think we have a group of girls who are willing to work hard, especially the group that went there last year,” he said. “They felt the pain of finishing 4-1 and not advancing. Point spread means a lot, so they are hungry not to get into that situation again. So we’re ready to go.”

Before they go, coach McPhee-McCuin said they will spend the next two days fine tuning the team and working on their plays before they leave on Saturday.

“We’re going to work hard implementing the offence and defensive schemes and at the same time doing some conditioning work,” she said. “I think this team will be ready to play once we get there and the tournament gets underway.”

The Bahamas is slated to play out of Group A with Antigua & Barbuda, St Vincent & the Grenadines and the Virgin Islands. In Group B are defending champions Jamaica, Barbados, British Virgin Islands and Guyana.

The Bahamas is scheduled to open 3:30pm Monday against the Virgin Islands. Their second game is set for 4:15pm Tuesday against St Vincent and the Grenadines and their final game in the round robin will be 4:15pm Wednesday against Antigua & Barbuda.

Based on how they finish, the qualification will be played Friday and the final rounds Saturday.

Immediately following the ladies’ tournament, the men’s team is all set to travel to Tortola to play June 15-21. The Bahamas is placed in Group B with Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Guyana and Suriname. In Group A are Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Virgin Islands.

The Bahamas, now coached by Mario Bowleg, are defending champions. The team is expected to be named by Saturday.