The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools completed its 2018/19 basketball puzzle by crowning the new junior boys and senior girls champions yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

In joining the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine’s junior girls and St John’s Giants senior boys, who won their titles in two-game sweeps on Friday, the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons earned the junior title with a 55-38 win and St John’s stunned SAC 42-33 for the senior girls’ title.

Giants 42, Big Red Machine 33

Coach Oswaldo Taylor had his senior girls from St John’s firing on all cylinders as they took a slim 19-17 lead into the half. They managed to hold off every charge SAC came up with in the second half to preserve the win.

Down the stretch, Michelle Butler came up with a couple of big blow shots and critical rebounds that enabled the Giants and their fans to start their celebrations.

And after Calvinique Spence converted their final three baskets to seal the deal, St John’s rushed onto the court to enjoy their big moment.

Spence finished with 12 points to lead their attack. Sidney Hillaire followed with 11, Christina Richardson chipped in with nine and both Michelle Butler and Logan Sands had five.

“This is awesome. I haven’t had this feeling since I was with the T-Bird Flyers (in the New Providence Basketball Association),” Taylor said. “This is a great team. I thank God for them. They all did a wonderful job today. We had a wonderful practice on Sunday and now we have a wonderful victory because of that,” she added.

St John’s was slow in getting into their rhythm as they trailed SAC 11-4 at the end of the first quarter. But they went up for the first time (19-17) just before the half-time buzzer on Spence’s lay-up.

The Big Red Machine would roll ahead 27-26 at the end of the third, but it was all Giants as they stood tall in the fourth quarter on a six-point spurt to eventually close out the game.

Jade Brown produced seven points to pace SAC, while Makyla White, Karolyn Baptiste and Tamia Arthur both had six in a losing effort.

“I think the girls gave it all they had. They can hold their heads up. It was a very good game,” said SAC’s head coach Reggie Forbes. “We had to capitalise on every opportunity that we had and we didn’t in some cases. You can’t make those mistakes against a team like St John’s.

Falcons 55, Comets 38: Michael Johnson was almost a one-man wrecking crew as he exploded for a game high 20 points, including 13 in the third quarter as Jordan Prince Williams pulled away from a 26.

A Walkes was the only other player in double figures with 10 points. Both T Heart and V Clarke contributed six and J Fisher added five in the win.

“It feels different from the others because we have to give it to QC. Their coaching staff did an awesome job, but I had to keep my guys focused,” said Jordan Prince Williams’ head coach Ernest Saunders.

The Falcons 17-4 spurt in the first quarter, held onto a 26-18 lead at the half, extended it to 41-28 at the end of the third and cruised in the fourth on a 14-10 surge.

Saunders said he had hoped that their senior boys would have made it to the postseason, but they were eliminated because of what they termed an “illegal player,” so they wanted to make sure that they at least cart home one of the trophies this year.

Ahmad Evans was the only player in double figures for the Comets with 10. Malik Pierre had eight, Jayden Munnings seven and Akel Edwards six.

Queen’s College head coach Ruben Mounts Jr said it was a difficult pill to sallow, but they accepted the defeat.

“We went out there and played as best as we could,” he said. “Prince Will wanted it a little more and it showed in their performances. We had a good season, so I’m proud of the guys.”

The BAISS eventually crowned four new champions this year as none of the defending champions - SAC junior girls, Temple Christian junior boys, Jordan Prince Williams senior girls or SAC senior boys - were able to hold onto their titles.