The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE TOP teams in the Bahamas Scholastic Sports Association (BSSA) - the smaller private schools in the country - have been squaring off this week in a battle for the coveted title of basketball champions.

The Teleos Cherubims are level at one game apiece with their opposition in the two girls divisions as both series were extended yesterday at the A F Adderley Gymnasium.

The decisive game threes take place today, beginning at 4pm.

Teleos Cherubims - 24

Mt Carmel Cavaliers - 21

Teleos’ senior girls squandered several opportunities at the line to take control late on, but made their free throws when it mattered most to stay alive in the series.

Angelique Bethell converted a three-point play with just under 20 seconds to play to lift the Cherubims to the game two win.

She finished with a game high nine points. Cavaliers held an 18-16 lead when Teleos began to dominate the boards with possession after possession and went 0-8 at the free throw line with an opportunity to go ahead.

Bethell trimmed the lead to 21-20 when she made a pair at the line and followed with a steal with just over 35 seconds left to play.

Her teammate Leondra Saunders tied the game at the line on the ensuing possession.

After the Cavs coughed the ball up on a turnover, Bethell came up with a steal and layup to clinch the game with a three-point play.

Teleos head coach Pastor Dave Adams said he was pleased with the win, but said his team must play better down the stretch to claim the 2015 title.

“The girls played well enough to win and sometimes that is all you can ask for, but we made that game far too hard on ourselves by missing so many chances at the free throw line. We have to be better from there if we want to win,” he said. “It is do or die now, one chance to win so they have to leave it all on the floor to take game three.”

In a slow scoring first half, Teleos led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter. Mt Carmel scored the first basket of the game, but went scoreless for the remainder of the quarter and the drought continued straight through to the second.

Alkiea Rolle, who scored a team high nine points, gave the Cavs their first lead of the game in the third quarter with a pair of free throws, 10-9. Saunders responded with back to back jumpers, to give Teleos a 13-10 lead at the end of the third.

Freedom Baptist

Warriors - 20

Teleos Cherubims - 6

Freedom Baptist staved off elimination and now have an opportunity to repeat as junior girls champions.

Esther Pierre scored a game high six points for Freedom Baptist, while Kevonne McCulsky added afive.

The game was scoreless in the first quarter until Freedom Baptist ended the drought early in the second. McCulsky was fouled on a fastbreak and made two at the line for the first score of the game

She followed with a layup two possessions later for a 4-0 lead and extended her team’s lead with a steal and assist to Pierre for a layup.

Jessica Joeseph made a buzzer beating jumper for an 8-0 lead at the half for the Warriors.

Teleos finally scored when Krishe Bethell made one of two free throws.

Freedom led 11-1 after the third quarter and cruised to a 14-point win.