The Tribune

AFTER taking a break for the Christmas holiday, the New Providence Basketball Association opened the second half of its season at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

In the men's division II opener, the Rockets defeated the Eagles Nest 73-72 and the Rhythm Rebels got by the Island Game Pros 71-55 in the division one encounter.

• Here's a summary of

the two games played:

Rockets 73, Eagles Nest 72: Travis Rolle grabbed an offensive rebound and got the pass off to Shaquille Bain, who got the shot off with just five seconds left on the clock to lift the Rockets to the close victory.

It was just one of two baskets for Bain, who finished with four points, while Rolle got his third rebound to go along with nine points. Bertrum Minns led the attack for the Rockets with a game high 34 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 18-for-24 from the free throw line in 29 minutes and 34 seconds.

Calvin Tynes added eight points and 13 rebounds and Tanaj Lightbourne also contributed eight points with five rebounds.

In a losing effort, Janaldo Joseph came off the bench in 24:55 minutes and scored 26 points with four steals and three rebounds to lead the Eagles Nest. Troy Trembley was also in double figures with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Eagles Nest led 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, but the Rockets took a 35-30 margin at the half. The Eagles out-scored the Rockets 25-23 in the third and it was a seesaw battle throughout the fourth.

Rebels 71, Pros 55: Antorio Collie, in 37:07 minutes, had a game high 17 points and six rebounds after he went 8-for-17 from the field and 1-for-1 from the foul line to pace the Rebels to victory. Theo Farrington came off the bench with 14 points and nine rebounds; Craig Buchanana also had 14 points and Adorn Charlow helped out with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Derrick Ferguson scored just 11 points to lead Island Game. Steve Miller had 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds and Dominique Lewis added nine points and seven rebounds.

The Pros opened a 14-11 spurt in the first quarter, but couldn't score in the second quarter as the Rebels out-scored them 21-4 to take a 32-14 advantage at the half. By the end of the third, the Pros had regained their composure, out-scoring the Rebels 18-13, but it wasn't enough to make a bent in the fourth.

The league took a break for the Majority Rule Day holiday on Wednesday, but will resume play on Friday when their double header will be played at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. In the opener at 7 pm, the Caro Contractors Resistance will take on the Triple K Stampers and the Rhythm Rebels will face the University of thew Bahamas Mingoes, fresh of their trip to Florida to play in a three-game series where they compiled a 2-1 win-loss record.

On Saturday night, the action will return to the AF Adderley Gymnasium when two more games will be played. In the 7 pm opener, the Vitamalt Chargers will take on the JD's Seafood Shockers and at 8:30 pm, the Commonwealth Bank Giants will face the PJ Stingers.