The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The curtains came down on the 39th edition of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Classic on Monday night with the Sunland Baptist Stingers emerging as the back-to-back champions.

The Stingers took the title home to Grand Bahama with a 64-52 victory over the CI Gibson Rattlers in another classic Grand Bahama versus New Providence match-up.

While Donell Basden was named the most valuable player after he scored 12 points with 17 rebounds and six block shots as he paced the potent offensive attack for the Stingers, Sunland’s coach Jay Philippe was named the coach of the tournament.

As the week-long tournament at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium came to a close, the organisers from the host AF Adderley Junior High School presented the All-Tournament awards to the following players: Evan Cartwright - Kingsway Academy; Jasmen Rock - Louise McDonald; Nakero Brown - Charles W Saunders; Ogden Aranha - Temple Christian Academy; Leonardo Burrows - Queen’s College; Edwin Ferguson - Study Hall; Donell Basden, Tianno Roberts and Jordan Saunders - Sunland Baptist; James Delia and Dieunell Joseph - CI Gibson; Shamar Davis - St George’s.

The individual award winners are as follows:

Most steals - Edward Ferguson, Study Hall; Most assists - Jasmin Rock, Louise McDonald; most points - Leonardo Burrows, Queen’s College, Most points - Leonardo Burrows, Queen’s College, and Most blocks - Nakero Brown, Charles W Saunders.

Cara Curtis, one of the tournament organisers, said despite the window they had to work with in putting the tournament together, they are very pleased with the way things turned out. “We thank the persons who were able to assist us at short notice and were very responsive to us,” Curtis said. “We also want to thank the teams who came on board because it would not have been an easy task for them in planning and getting here for those who had to travel.

“We also want to thank the general public for playing a major role in the success of the tournament. They supported every day. They followed their teams, which showed that they not only love basketball, but certain individuals who played. It was great to see parents and grandparents coming out to support their children. It showed a sense of pride for the players as well as the fans.”

For the record, Sunland became just the seventh school in the history of the tournament to capture the title in two or more consecutive years. They joined the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, who were the last team to do it in 2017-2018.

The Falcons were coached by Kevin Clarke, whose team got eliminated by Sunland in a rematch of the Grand Bahama finals when the Falcons snapped the Stingers’ undefeated winning season before they came into the tournament.

Before Clarke took over, he played for Tabernacle, who was coached by Norris Bain, who still holds the record as the winningest coach in the tournament. Clarke won back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996, separate crowns in 1998 and 2000 before he pulled off another two-year sweep in 2009 and 2010.

Among the other schools to claim consecutive titles were the CC Sweeting Cobras, coached then by now Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016.

Despite losing this year’s title, coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson can still bask in his glory, having won the title five times with CI Gibson.

He started in 2002, got a triple feat from 2014-2016 and again a single crown in 2014.

The only other coach to win a triple-peat was James ‘Jimmy’ Clarke with the Hawksbill High Hawks from 1992-1994.

Clarke also holds the distinction of being the only coach to win at two different schools on two different islands.

He returned to New Providence and coached the CR Walker Knights to the title in 1997.

The host AF Adderley Fighting Tigers, before they were switched from a secondary to junior high school, won the title in 1987-88 under coach Doug Collins with Jimmy Clarke as his assistant.

Although they didn’t win it consecutively, the Catholic High Crusaders, coached by Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee, captured the title in 1983, the first year that the tournament was opened to the Grand Bahama schools. They won it again in 1989 and 1991. In 1999, with Charlie ‘Softly’ Rubins replacing McPhee, they won the title again.

The tournament was first held in 1992 with the LW Young Golden Eagles, coached by the late Walter Rand, carting off the title. The last New Providence team to win the title was the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, coached by Denycko Bowles, in 2019.

The tournament was the brainchild of Alsworth ‘Whitey’ Pickstock, Collins and Alfred Forbes, who wanted to provide an opportunity for the young basketball players to enhance their skills at the conclusion of the school league.