The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The final matchups have been decided, setting the stage for a night of thrilling finishes at the 2018 Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships.

In the Senior Girls’ division, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins and the Jordan Prince William Falcons will meet to decide the national title for the second consecutive year.

And in the Senior Boys’ division, the Tabernacle Falcons will face off against the Sir Jack Hayward Wildcats in a rematch of the Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association Championship.

The Wildcats were the last team to advance after a pair of wins yesterday at the St George’s Gymnasium. They defeated the CC Sweeting Cobras 38-31 in the quarter-finals and returned just hours later to clinch a championship berth with a 47-29 win over the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves in the semi-finals.

Jalen Hall had his best performance of the tournament last night with 15 points to lead the Wildcats to the title game. McKell Bethell had 12 points and 12 rebounds while Tremaine Ferguson had 16 rebounds.

The Wildcats outrebounded the T’Wolves by 24, creating second and third shot opportunities possession after possession.

Jack Hayward lost their first game of the tournament 46-45 to the Mystic Marlins but rebounded with wins over Teleos, St George’s, Jordan Prince William and the Cobras.

Tabernacle has been the most dominant senior boys’ team in the island nation and their path to the championship has featured three wins by an average of 19.6 points per game. They opened play with a 42-18 win over Eight Mile Rock, followed by a 29-28 win over St George’s and a 60-36 blowout win over the T’Wolves to advance to the championship.

In the Senior Girls, both teams advanced with lopsided semi-final wins over teams out of Grand Bahama at the St George’s Gymnasium last night. The Mystic Marlins became the only programme to appear in three consecutive championship games when they defeated the Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors 54-39 in the first semi-final.

Mystic Marlins head coach Kevon Spence said his team made history by becoming the only team to accomplish the feat of three trips to nationals. “We give God thanks for this opportunity, no matter who we face we just try to keep them groomed and ready for moments like this. We are arduous in our preparation and we will want to play to our strengths,” he said. The Falcons advanced with a 56-38 win over St George’s. The Jaguars led 12-4 at one point before the Falcons went on a 14-0 run to take control for good.

In 2017, the Lady Falcons routed the Mystic Marlins 52-30 in the title game. “On any given team any team can win,” Spence said. “Last year they blew us out the water and we are excited to face them again and return the favour.”