The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the Commonwealth Bank Giants continue their impressive winning streak by pushing the defending champions PJ Stingers on the brink of elimination, the Mr Ship It Freight Regulators are looking to make it to their first championship appearance in the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) postseason.

At the AF Adderley Gymnasium Friday night, Commonwealth Bank snatched a 93-89 victory over the Stingers to take the initial lead in the John Archer Divisional best-of-three semi-final series. The Giants came back Saturday and deposited a commanding lead in the series with a 93-74 win.

Meanwhile, in the other series, Mr Ship It Freight nipped the Mail Boat Cybots 91-89 to secure the opener of the Vince Ferguson Divisional best-of-three semifinal series. The Regulators kept the pressure on as they surged to a 112-108 decision.

What’s interesting to note is that Commonwealth Bank played their first two games without their leading scorer Michael Bain Jr and they still managed to hold of PJ’s, the defending champions.

Here’s a summary of the games played:

Giants 93, Stingers 74: Mark Hanna, in 35 minutes and 10 seconds as a starter, pumped in a game high 30 points with eight rebounds, four assists and three block shots to power Commonwealth Bank into the driver’s seat of their semifinal series.

Kevin Hinsey had 11 points and five rebounds; Jarell Coakley came off the bench and scored 10 points with 10 rebounds, as did Jeffrey Henfeidl with 10 points six rebounds and four assists. Robson Memnon had nine points and 10 rebounds and Tehran Cox chipped in wirth seven points, five assists and four rebounds.

The Giants opened a 26-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to 48-24 at the half. They held a slim 22-21 margin in the third to increase it to 70-45, but got out-scored 29-23 in the fourth by the Stingers as they tried to make a late surge at the end, but it was a little too late.

Able Joseph led PJ with 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals; Devon Ferguson had 16 points and four rebounds; Batchlette LaFleur had 15 points and six rebounds; Vernon Stubbs had eight points with seven rebounds and Garvin Scavella helped out with six points and five rebounds.

Giants 93, Stingers 74: Mark Hanna, in his starting role, came up with 21 points and 13 rebounds as Commonwealth Bank stayed unbeaten and one game away from advancing to the championship. He also had two block shots in 30 minutes and 20 seconds.

Jeffrey Henfield had 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals; Tehran Cox also duplicated his game one effort with 14 points and eight rebounds; David ‘Skittles’ Taylor had 13 points and seven rebounds and Kevin Hinsey

Giants 93, 89: Mark Hanna, again playing in 30:20 minutes as a starter, pumped in a side high 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead a balanced scoring attack for Commonwealth Bank in game one. Hanna also had a pair of block shots with an assist and a steal on his ledger.

Jeffrey Henfield came of the bench and contributed identical effort of 18 points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Tehran Cox had 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists; David ‘Skittles’ Taylor had 13 points and seven rebounds and Kevin Hinsey had 11 points, three assists and two rebounds.

The Giants held a 46-38 lead at the half after going up 18-16 at the end of the first quarter. But the Stingers came out of the locker room at the half to turn things around in the third quarter for a 32-24 rout o tie the score 70-70 going into the final period. However, the Giants went on a 23-19 spurt in the fourth to seal the victory.

Able Joseph scored a game high 32 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Vernon Stubbs scored 12 points with eight rebounds; Dion McPhee had 10 points, nine points, two assists and two rebounds; Daniel Bullard had 10 points and four rebounds and both Randy Williams and Batchlette LaFleur had eight points and five rebounds apiece.

Regulators 91, Cybots 89: Lamar Watkins canned a pair of free throws with just two seconds remaining on clock to lift the Mr Ship It Freight to their second victory after Brian ‘Tucker’ Bain missed a buzzer beating three-point attempt to enable the Mail Boat to pull even.

Watkins came up with the final eight points in the last minute as he helped the Regulators to bounce back from a 89-85 deficit to tie the score before he had the two biggest charity shots from the foul line in the game. In coming of the bench to play 35 minutes, Watkins finished with a game high 35 points with four rebounds, two assists and as many steals.

Kenneth Pratt had 24 points, six rebounds and three assists; Simon Cruz had eight points; DarvilleTrucillo had six points; Robert Missick had five points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two block shots and Jason Mitchell Jr had five points and five rebounds. Miguel Mackey had four points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and block shot.

Regulators 112, Cybots 108: Alexander Rolle came of the bench and lid up the nets for a game high 30 points with four rebounds and two assists in 31:47 minutes to give Mr Shit It Freight the early package in their series.

Kenneth Pratt had 21 points and four rebounds; Lamar Watkins had 16 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds; Carlos Thompson had 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and as many steals; Hakeem Walkes had eight points; Cordero Thompson seven points and 11 rebounds; Miguel Mackey had seven points and three assists and Fabian Lightbourne had four points and six rebounds.

Eugene Bain had 26 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Mail Boat. Georgio Walkes also had 26 points, four assists and three rebounds; Livingstone Munnings had 14 points and nine rebounds and Lerecus Armbrister added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Mr Ship It Freight sailed ahead 27-23 after the first , but the Mail Boat responded for a 51-51 tie at the half. A slim 28-27 margin in the third pushed the Regulators ahead 79-78 going into the fourth quarter. In that final period, the Regulators out-scored the Cybots 33-30 for the win.

Tonight’s schedule

7:30 pm Commonwealth Bank Giants vs PJ Stingers.

9 pm Mr Ship It Freight Regulators vs Mail Boat Cybots.