The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT was a wire-to-wire blowout win for Team Bahamas as they continue to deliver a series of impressive performances at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships.

The Bahamas finished round robin group play with a perfect 3-0 record after they dismantled Antigua and Barbuda yesterday with a 74-39 win at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

With the win, they assured themselves of an opportunity to, at the very least, play for the bronze medal.

Shanea Armbrister and Malesha Petterson led a balanced scoring effort with 12 points each. Eight of the 12 players on the roster reached the scorebook.

Valerie Nesbitt finished with 10 points and a game high five assists, Tracey Lewis added nine points while Linda Pierre, Latoya Thompson, Shalonda Neely and Philicia Kelly each chipped in with six points.

Ashley Moss went scoreless but finished with a team high 10 rebounds.

Arrianne Whyte led Antigua and Barbuda with 13 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs, while Amanda Edwards scored 10.

The Bahamas dominated statistically in every aspect of the game and limited their opponents to single digits scoring in each of the opening quarters.

Although they shot just 39 per cent from the field, 25 per cent from three-point range and 29 per cent from the free throw line, they limited Antigua to a 24 per cent, zero per cent (0-7) and 30 per cent in the respective categories.

The Bahamas dished out 21 assists on their 34 made baskets, forced 26 turnovers and scored 24 points off those turnovers.

In the first quarter, Neely would score the opening layup and the Bahamas went on a 14-4 run to take a 10-point lead early on.

The first quarter lead would grow to as much as 17 at one point on a Diasti Delancy score, and eventually they would take a 22-7 lead into the second.

In the second, Antigua would manage just a single field goal and two free throws as the Bahamas put the game out of reach for good.

They took a 37-11 lead into the half.

As the winner in Group A, the Bahamas will advance to the semi-final where they will face Barbados, the second team in Group B. The matchup takes place 9pm tonight local time.

Barbados finished Group B at 2-1 with an opening loss to Jamaica (75-57) followed by wins over the BVI (79-49) and Guyana (81-61).

The defending champions Jamaica also finished the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record.