The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Athletico Bahamas from New Providence and the Police Enforcers from South Andros took their opening matches in blowout fashion in the men’s B division of the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Annual Bunny Levarity National Basketball Tournament.

As the three-day tournament got started last night at the DW Davis Gymnasium, Athletico pulled away from San Salvador 72-54 and the Enforcers handcuffed the Bimini Marlins 75-56.

The feature game was played between New Providence’s Mail Boat Cybots and Grand Bahama’s GB Shipyard Cruisers in the men’s A division, but no score was available up to press time last night.

The tournament, featuring the championship teams in the two divisions, is slated to continue 5pm today and wrap up on Saturday night when the championship game will be played. There are no ladies’ teams participating this year.

• Here’s a summary of

the two games played:

Athletico 72,

San Salvador 54

After playing a close encounter for three quarters, Athletico Bahamas, one of the youngest teams in the New Providence Basketball Association, turned up the heat a little in the fourth and San Salvador didn’t have the stamina to keep up with the torrid pace.

The game got off to a great start for Athletico, who opened a 19-7 spurt to take the first quarter. But San Salvador refused to roll over and play dead as they got their feet under them and turned things around in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 34-28 at the half.

San Salvador stayed close in the third, falling behind 50-41 going into the fourth quarter. However, Athletico seemed to have gained a lot of momentum and they used an effective defence as they benefited on the offensive end with the fast breaks and a couple of highlight dunks to seal the deal.

“The lack of competition showed in the last four minutes of the game,” said San Salvador’s coach Stephen Brown. “The final score was indicative of how close the game was. We came within six, but we didn’t have the legs to stay with them the rest of the way.”

Dylan Musgrove, who led the offensive attack for Athletico, scored a game high 23 points, shooting 10 for-17 from the field, 1-for-3 from the three-point arch and 2-for-3 from the free throw line in 27 minutes. He also pulled down eight rebounds.

Adam Johnson was a monster in the paint with 13 points, 12 rebounds, seven block shots and three steals. Kamaal Murphy was the only other player in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds. Shakwon Lewis added nine points with seven assists and four rebounds.

For San Salvador, Kenton King lid up the nets for 18 points on 7-for-22 from the field and 4-for-9 from the three-point line in 32 minutes. Birthel Lightfoot and Terenee Storr both had eight points and three rebounds.

Enforcers 75, Marlins 56: What started out as a close encounter, turned out to be a rout as South Andros broke away from 47-47 tie at the end of the third quarter as they took matters in their own hands in the fourth.

Bimini led at the end of the first quarter – 14-13, but South Andros surged ahead 29-28 at the half, only to watch as Bimini bounced back to even the score to close out the third.,

“The fellows came out a little sluggish at first, but after we settled down, we started to run our plays that got us here and we came out victorious,” said South Andros’ head coach Royneil Lewis.

After missing last year’s tournament in Bimini, Lewis said their goal is to prove that they are the best division B team in the country and they intend to do it by taking the title back to South Andros.

Brandon Rolle, shooting 8-for-18 from the field and 4-for-8 from the charity stripe, scored 20 points in just 15 minutes to pace the Police. He also had 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

John Woodside helped out with 16 points and 10 rebounds; Aaron Rolle had 15 points and eight rebounds; Gary Knowles and Tyrell Bain both had eight points and Basil Adderley contributed seven points with eight rebounds and four assists.

Gregory Goodman came up with 20 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists in a losing effort. Dinioro Lockhart had 13 points, three rebounds and three assists; Dario Saunders added 11 points, nine steals and four rebounds and Garth Dames had seven points and five rebounds.