The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE GSSSA basketball championships produced four programmes successful in their bids to repeat in each of the respective divisions as the league concluded its season over the weekend at Loyola Hall.

In the league’s finale, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins senior boys claimed back-to-back titles in the only series to go to a third and deciding game. Each of the remaining series were won in two-game sweeps. The DW Davis Royals junior boys programme won their fifth consecutive title, while the TA Thompson Scorpions’ Junior Girls and CI Gibson Rattlers senior girls were also able to repeat.

In a rematch of last year’s final, the Mystic Marlins overcame a game one loss to complete the backdoor sweep over the CI Gibson Rattlers with a 70-58 win in game three.

Richard Lowe was named series MVP and finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Joshua Burrows scored 16, Davon Simms finished with 15 points off the bench and Matthew Saunders added six points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Saheed Sanusi led three Rattlers players in double figures with 17 points, while Chad Smith and Emmanuel Alexandre each scored 11.

The Mystic Marlins got out to an early 11-3 lead and took a 24-11 lead at the end of the first. The Doris Johnson lead reached as much as 18 in the second quarter when Saunders made a layup for a 34-16 advantage. Sanusi keyed a late run toward the end of the half but the Mystic Marlins still had a 38-27 lead. CI Gibson won the third quarter 22-11 in the third to take a 49-49 tie into the fourth.

Mystic Marlins head coach Denycko Bowles said the goal since the offseason was the ability to repeat.

“I knew they had the potential to repeat. I believe in them and the school believed. We believed in ourselves. This is the fifth time we played CI Gibson since I got into teaching and coaching. They beat us the first two times, we came back and won twice and this was the tiebreaker. I told them to go out and have fun and the guys really stuck to the game plan. The players bought into it and the players knew every single game we played was a step here.”

Rattlers head coach Kevin Johnson said the Mystic Marlins just wanted it more and his team will look to regroup after a second consecutive championship loss.

“We have to concentrate, you have to make them when you’re tired, Doris Johnson made theirs and I feel like it was a major difference in the game. We didnt take care of the ball, Doris Johnson capitalised on that” he said.

“I’m not upset about losing the game. I’m just disappointed we didn’t make our free throws and layups.

“We were able to get here two years ago and we just couldn’t beat this team. I guess the third year’s a charm.”

The Royals completed another undefeated season with a lopsided 53-36 win over the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves.

Frank Wallace delivered an MVP performance with 18 points in the series clincher while Philip Rahming scored 14 and Keon Cooper scored six.

Michael Finley scored 15 and Corey Wright scored eight. The Rattlers managed to emerge with one championship title as their senior girls closed out their series with a 47-33 win over the Timberwolves.

MVP Glennia Sands finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jeansline Garson added 11 points.

In another repeat of a 2019 series, the TA Thompson Scorpions clinched the junior girls’ title with a 41-39 victory over the HO Nash Lions.Adena Webster won MVP and finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Dominic Rolle finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.