The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON the heels of the exciting climax of the prestigious 37th Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture are gearing up for their fourth National High School Basketball Tournament.

Scheduled for March 27 to April 1 in Grand Bahama, the event is expected to feature the top 12 senior girls and top 16 senior boys’ teams in the country.

According to Evon Wisdom, the sports director in the Ministry of Education, this year’s nationals promises to be the most competitive, based on the recent performances in the New Providence and Grand Bahama competitions. “Based on the fact that we have some funding and some assistance from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, we are proceeding with the National High School Championships for boys and girls,” Wisdom said.

“What you will have is the top teams in the country in the boys’ division and a grouping of about 3-5 at-large teams that have been selected to compete as well. In the girls’ division, we are looking at a straight pick with the best teams in the country.”

Unlike last year, Wisdom said the organising committee has decided to scrap the Family Island division this year, due to budgetary constraints, and will allow all of the teams to compete against each other.

“Based on the rankings, we will make a determination on who will be invited to participate,” Wisdom said. “Those Family Island teams that will get the at-large invitations, will have to take care of some of their financial commitments to get to the tournament.”

A press conference is scheduled for today when the full listing of teams will be announced.

Wisdom said the investment by the government in the nationals will further enhance the level of basketball in the country. “We anticipate that this will be one of the most exciting nationals ever in that we could see snother Nassau-Grand Bahama match-up as we did in the final of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic,” Wisdom said.

“Based on how these teams are playing, we don’t know who will be there. Maybe it will be the same two teams from last night (Monday), or it could be two other teams.

“But we believe it could be another New Providence-Grand Bahama showdown.”

On Monday night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association champions Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins knocked off the Grand Bahama champions St George’s Jaguars 84-75 in double overtime to win this year’s Hugh Campbell Basketball tournament title.

Last year in Grand Bahama, the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons clinched the Division I title over the Jack Hayward Wildcats, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins emerged as the senior girls’ champions over the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons and the Gateway Eagles secured the Family Island divisional crown.