The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins completed one half of the sweep in GSSSA basketball early yesterday evening with the crowning of their Senior Girls.

The Mystic Marlins defeated the pennant winning and defending champions, CR Walker Knights, 32-29 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Thyrell Thompson scored a team high 12 points in an MVP performance to lead her team to the title. Atenique Young and Briontae Riley each chipped in with six points while Tanae Bowleg scored four.

Tercel Rolle scored a game high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Knights, while Antonya Fertil scored eight.

Both teams shot poorly at 29 per cent, and neither made a shot from beyond the arch, but the Mystic Marlins outscored the Knights 12-3 at the free throw line.

Doris Johson scored 10 points from turnovers, but the Knights held the edge in points in the paint 18-12.

Despite not winning the league’s pennant, the Mystic Marlins have been active this season and have participated in several tournaments - claiming the title in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association’s All-Girls High School Tournament, held in honour of long-time basketball coach Anthony Swaby.

“The team put some work in and throughout the year, you could see that they improved each game and, in the championship game, they put on an excellent performance,” said Doris Johnson’s head coach Kevon Spence.

The Mystic Marlins trailed 12-6 early on but tied the game at 16 at the half. Rolle came up with consecutive steals and fastbreak layups to give the Knights a 20-16 lead. Thompson would respond, sparking a run to put her team back ahead 28-22, and they would be able to hold on down the stretch for the win.

Spence talked about how the win would affect the programme moving forward.

“We have a lot of younger players and we had an opportunity to give them exposure to big games and what it’s like to play at this level,” Spence said.

“It was a major win for this team, for this school and our programme. These girls worked hard from day one and they deserve everything they have earned this year.”

In The Junior Girls matchup, the pennant winning SC McPherson Sharks were able to fend off elimination and avoid the sweep.

The Sharks scored a 24-20 win over the defending champion HO Nash Lions to tie the series 1-1 and force a third and deciding game.

Sharks head coach Chevy Simmons said his team embraces the opportunity to close out their season with a championship title.

“I know the girls could have given a better effort than they did in game one.

“Thankfully we were able to rebound and turn it around in game two and play to the level we have been playing all season,” he said. “It’s do or die right now so all that hard work they have put in over the course of the season – this is what it is all for. They’re here now and it’s time to make the most of it.”

Game three takes place today at 4pm at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.