The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SUPER Value Cybots Queens’ forward Tracy Lewis led a balanced scoring attack on Saturday at the DW Davis Gymnasium as the President’s All-Stars used their youthfulness to out-shine the more experienced Vice Presidents.

Lewis, named the most valuable player, finished with 11 points in their 54-41 victory as the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association staged its All-Star Classic.

While Lewis turned out to be the only player on the President’s team in double figures, fellow Cybots Queens’ Venisha Moss and Bommer Gee and Lady Operators’ Sharell Cash helped out with nine points.

“I feel as thought our team did a pretty good job, even though we’ve never played together,” Lewis said. “We came together as a unit and we came out with the win.”

On her MVP performance, Lewis noted: “I just came out and had some fun. I didn’t expect it, but I was happy that I won it. We had some pretty good players on our team.”

The President’s team, coached by Wayde Watson of Super Value and Donnie Culmer of Bommer Gee, made it look so easy as they doubled up the Vice Presidents 16-8 in the first quarter and shot the ball from the outside in the second quarter to extend their lead to 30-11 at the half.

The Vice Presidents, coached by Mario Bowleg of the Career Builders Lady Cheetahs and Penial Bain of the Johnson’s Lady Truckers, managed to make it an exciting game, cutting the deficit to 37-28 at the end of the third. But the President’s team had a little more energy with a full bench as the Vice Presidents, who were short-handed, couldn’t sustain their pace in the fourth.

“It was good, it was good,” said Watson after the victory. “We got off to a quick start and they were never able to recover, especially playing in a running time game.”

Felicia Kelly of the Lady Cheetahs scored a game high 12 points and Keva Barry of the Dee Saints had six to lead the way for the Vice presidents.

In the Coaches versus the Officials game, Tyrone Sands of the Cybots Queens canned one of two free throws with 5.4 seconds left in the game to earn a 25-25 tie for the Coaches.

Instead of playing an overtime period to determine the winner, the officials’ team missed both of their free throws and that left the door open for the coaches as Bain canned the first of his free throws to secure the win.

“It was a lot of fun, an enjoyable game,” said Bain. “It was good for us to be able to demonstrate to them, the things we stress in practice and during the game. But it was good to have the All-Star. I think we got a chance to bring everybody together. It was so nice for us to bond together. We as coaches and officials need to play these games so we can show our players how we do it.”

Not that it mattered or any individual statistics were kept, but Bain was joined by Watson, Sands and Culmer. The Officials, who had taken an early lead, were led by Deven Johnson, Tunde Davis and Kennedy Polidor as they entertained the fans a little more with their performances.

There was also a three-point shooting contest with Alyse Dean of the Cybots Queens hitting three shots, including the money ball at the end of her rotation for the win over Melesha Peterson of the Cybots Queens with two and Keva Barry of the Saints with one in the final.

“I just came out here to have fun. It was good camaraderie playing with the girls from the other teams,” Dean said. “I just saved the best for the last. I didn’t expect for three to win it, but I will take it.”

League president Mynez Cargill-Sherman said the night was exactly what they needed. “I want to say thanks to our fans and our supporters for coming out for the activities here tonight,” Cargill-Sherman said. “I also want to say thanks to the coaches and officials as they really made the night exciting. I would have to say that we had a very successful night, but we’re on the road getting to the level that we want to be. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Cargill-Sherman said there is always room for improvement and so they are expecting to make the next All-Star Classic bigger and better in 2016.

At the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Friday night, the New Providence Basketball Association hosted its All-Star Classic for the men’s division.

The Vince Ferguson Division defeated the John Archer Division 74-63 with William Rigby of the Real Deal Shockers winning the most valuable player after scoring 19 points. There was also a three-point shootout,which was won by Lorenzo Carter from Y-Cares Wreckers.

In the individual skills competition Elvardo Burrows from Commonwealth Bank Giants was the winner. The team skills competition was won by the Real Deal Shockers.