The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the season starting to wind down over the next two weeks, teams are jostling for the final playoff spots in the New Providence Basketball Association men’s division.

The Commonwealth Bank Giants (11-1) and Mail Boat Cybots (12-1), both former champions, have already clinched the respective John Archer and Vince Ferguson divisional pennants. But there are still a couple of teams vying to complete the playoff picture as the postseason is set to start just before the Easter break.

League president Eugene Horton said they intend to have the regular season completed by next Wednesday and the first round playoffs should begin that weekend.

The league is hoping to have its champion crowned in time for the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s National Round Robin Tournament, tentatively set for the weekend of April 28-30 in New Providence.

“It’s been a pretty competitive season,” Horton said. “In each division, the pennants have been wrapped up and by the weekend, we should know who the four teams in each division will be as we go into the playoffs next week.”

The PJ’s Stingers, the defending champions, are currently vying for either the third or the fourth spot in the John Archer Division and they should not be counted out. But Horton said the surprise team so far this year has been the College of the Bahamas Caribs in the Vince Ferguson and they could end up being the spoilers in the postseason.

On Monday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Cybots pulled off another big win, blasting the Elites Basketball Club 94-66, while the Island Game Pros knocked off the Rhythm Rebels 92-74.

Cybots 94,

Elites 66

Jeremy Hutchinson, in 31 minutes, exploded for 18 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Mail Boat as they coasted to a come-from-behind victory. Hutchinson was 7-for-15 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line to lead a balanced scoring attack.

Dario Seymour scored 17 points with five assists and three rebounds, Georgio Walkes came off the bench and added 14 points with five rebounds, Delvonne Duncombe had 13 points and three rebounds, Delano Knowles also got off the bench and contributed 10 points with eight rebounds, Livingstone Munnings had eight points and four rebounds and Dominique Beadle added seven points with six rebounds and three assists.

The Cybots trailed 22-17 after the first quarter, but went on a 27-5 spurt in the second to take control of the game, 44-27 at the half. They outscored the Elites 20-17 in the third and 30-22 in the fourth to hold on for the huge win.

Dario McKenzie, playing just over 34 minutes, came up with a game high 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Elites, who are at the bottom of the John Archer standings at 2-10. His twin brother Tario McKenzie, in 36 minutes, had 14 points and seven rebounds. Philip Outten chipped in with 10 points, Teneas Mackey had eight points and seven rebounds and both Carvel Johnson (11 rebounds) and Rashad Dean (six rebounds) had seven points.

Pros 92,

Rebels 74

Kevin Wright Jr canned a game high 29 points with two assists in about 22 minutes to lift Island Game to victory as they improved to 7-6 for fifth place in the Vince Ferguson Division. Wright was 13-for-19 from the field, 1-for-3 from the three-point line and 2-for-4 from the free throw line.

Adorn Charlow had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Colton Albury had 15 points and nine rebounds, Steven Miller had eight points and five rebounds, Derrick Ferguson had seven points and four rebounds and both Kenol Petit-Home and Mitch Bain came off the bench with six points and five rebounds. Bain also had five assists.

The Pros opened a slim 16-14 lead after the first quarter, but were tied with the Rebels (35-35) at the half. The Pros went up at the end of the third after outscoring the Rebels 26-20 and a 31-19 rout in the fourth enabled them to widen the final margin, dropping Rhythm Rebels to fifth place in the John Archer Division (5-8).

Only five players were in uniform for the Rebels, led by Rashard Williams’ 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Craig Buchanan had 21 points, Patrick Leadon added 15 points and seven rebounds, Wilfred Culmer had nine points and 15 rebounds and Trevor Stuart finished with seven points and 10 rebounds.

• The league is schedued to continue this week with the following games:

Tonight

7:30pm - Elites Basketball Club vs Mr Ship It Freight Regulators

9pm - Island Game Pros vs College of the Bahamas Caribs

Friday

7:30pm - Pyramid Food Rockets vs Pirates

9pm - Athletico Bahamas vs PJ Stingers

Saturday

7:30pm - Everybody Wins Legends vs Double R Services Limited Cleaners

9pm - Commonwealth Bank Giants vs Mail Boat Cybots

TEAM STANDINGS

John Archer Division

Teams W L Pct. GB

Commonwealth Bank Giants 11 1.916 -

Athletico Bahamas 10 3 .769 11/2

PJ Stingers 7 6 .538 41/2

Pyramid Food Rockets 6 7 .461 51/2

Rythm Rebels 5 8 .384 61/2

Double R Services Limited Cleaners 2 10 .166 9

Elites Basketball Club 2 10 .166 9

Vince Ferguson Division

Mail Boat Cybots 12 1 .923 -

Mr Ship It Freight Regulators 9 3 .750 21/2

College of the Bahamas Caribs 9 3 .750 21/2

Real Deal Shockers 7 6 .538 5

Island Game Pros 7 6 .538 5

Pirates 5 8 .384 7

Everybody Wins Legends 3 10 .230 81/2