The Tribune

IT will be the clash of the New Providence and the Grand Bahama titans as the two winningest teams in the history of the senior boys’ tournament will go head-to-head in tonight’s final of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.

The CI Gibson Rattlers - the runners-up in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association - and the Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Sports Association champion Tabernacle Baptist Falcons will be in the big dance that will be played at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium instead of the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

It will start at 8:30pm with coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson trying to ink his name into history as the winningest coach when he goes for his seventh title with the defending champions Rattlers against the Falcons, who won a tournament record of eight titles with six under former head coach Norris Bain.

On Sunday in the semifinal matches, which were rematches of both the New Providence and Grand Bahama championship series, the Rattlers and the Falcons set the stage for tonight’s showdown. Tabernacle Baptist Academy powered past their Grand Bahama runners-up Sunland Baptist Academy Stingers with a 59-56 triumph, while CI Gibson prevailed over the GSSSA champions Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves 66-58. 

Here’s a summary of the two matches:

Falcons 59, Stingers 56

With four players in double figures, Tabernacle Baptist clinched another berth in the final to go after their title.

Gianno Murray exploded for 25 points with six rebounds, Anthony Missick had 16 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds and Dylan Morris added 12 points with 14 rebounds and a pair of block shots.

Kevin Clarke, a former player who took over from Bain as the coach, winning the last two Tabernacle Baptist tithes back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, said he was just happy that his Falcons can go after another title.

“Every game we’ve played them, it’s been a real battle,” Clarke said. “But we just been able to get them lately. So, we’re peaking at the right time.”

As for the final, Clarke said it doesn’t matter who they face. Their opponents will take on the “winningest” high school basketball programme in the country.

The game, which saw both teams hold the lead, went right down to the wire with the Falcons surging ahead 57-53 on a consecutive three-pointer from Murray and a lay-up from Missick with 32.9 seconds left.

However, the Stingers responded as Sylvanno Gibson canned a three-pointer and then converted the last of two free throws with eight seconds left to trim the deficit to two, 57.55.

But with 13.3 remaining on the clock, Murray canned another three-pointer to seal the deal for Tabernacle Baptist, sending Sunland, the two-time champions from 2020 and 2023, packing.

Jermaine Woodside paced the Stingers with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Brian Cezalien had 12 points and nine rebound.

Gibson finished with 12 points as well with right rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Kareme Styles had eight points and Jahmaion Albury chipped in with six points, four assists and three rebounds.

Rattlers 68, Timberwolves 58 

Avenging their defeat in the GSSSA championship, CI Gibson came up with some big shots in the clutch moments down to the stretch to get back into the tournament final for the third consecutive year.

The combo of Tashon Butler, Darus Hanna, Mario Rolle and Condae Smith proved to be a little too much for Anatol Rodgers to handle as they secured the win for the Rattlers.

Butler finished with 24 points, seven steals and five rebounds, Hanna had 15 points, four steals and three rebounds; Smith had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“Anatol is a tough team. We had to really dig deep and force some turnovers,” said coach Johnon. 

“My boys didn’t play the type of basketball that we could. We missed some lay-ups and free throws, but in tournament play, you have to play.”

Johnson said they just had to stay focused and poised because the Timberwolves came out to play.Raymone Woods led the Timberwolves’ attack with 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists. 

Derek Francis had 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists; Cavelle Ferguson had nine points, eight rebounds and two assists and D’Nagio Fowler added eight points with five steals, three rebounds and two assists. 

Anatol Rodgers was coached by Denyko Bowles, who won a Hugh Campbell title in 2019 with the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins before he was eventually transferred to Anatol Rodgers.

Here’s the scores from the other games played over the weekend: 

Friday - Gateway Christian Academy def. Teleos Christian Academy 32-28; St George’s def. Westminster 37-28; CR Walker def. Doris Johnson 34-33; Charles W Saunders 58-28; Gateway Academy def. Kingsway Academy 38-37; CI Gibson def. Agape Chistian School 56-42; CC Sweeting def. Sunland Baptist 48-39; Tabernacle Baptist Academy def. RM Bailey 52-45 and Anatol Rodgers def. St John’s 47-42. 

Saturday - St Goerge’s def. Agape Academy 51-39; St John’s College def. Gateway Christian Academy 43-33; Sunland Baptist def. CR Walker 50-30; RM Bailey def. Charles W Saunders 35-25; Anatol Rodgers def. St John’s College 71-49; Tabernacle Baptist Academy def. RM Bailey 51-30; CI Gibson def., St George’s 72-58 and Sunland Baptist def. CC Sweeting 61-53.

Highlights of quarterfinal games

Stingers 61, Cobras 53

Brian Cezalien led a balanced scoring attack for Sunland with 20 points, six rebounds and four steals for Sunland Baptist as they marched into the divisional final. Jermaine Woodside had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Jahmarion Albury added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

Tavari Roker scored 14 points with six rebounds for CC Sweeting, coached by Baker, as they got eliminated. Keyshawn Pierre chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. 

Rattlers 72, Jaguars 56

Tashon Butler continued his impressive play, leading two other players in double figures for CI Gibson with 23 points, seven steals, six rebounds and three assists.

Mario Rolle had another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, five block shots and three steals and Condae Smith added 10 points with 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists.

St George’s, coached by Darryl Sears, got a game high 27 points with six rebounds, four steals and two assists from Isaih Roker, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the tournament. Makan Nesbitt added 15 points with 11 rebounds and four assists. 

Falcons 51, Pacers 30

Gianno Murray came up with 11 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists as Tabernacle Baptist clinched their berth into the divisional final. Anthony Missick  added 20 points with three steals and two assists.

RM Bailey, coached by Lamont Armaly, had one player in double figures in William Ingraham Ward with 10 points and six rebounds as they got ousted. Lawrence Monestine was their best producer with six points,  11 rebounds.

Timberwolves 71, Giants 49

Raymone Woods led three other players in double figures with 16 points, seven steals, four rebounds and three assists as Anatol Rodgers advanced to the divisional playoffs.

Derek Francis and Cavelle Ferguson both had 14 points with three rebounds to help out. 

Francis also had five steals and three assists, while Ferguson had four steals and three assists. 

Isreal White chipped in with 10 points with four rebounds. As St John’s, coached by Daryshan Baker made their exit, Leonardo Rolle scored 13 points with a pair of rebounds and assists and Akai Miller and Deren Moultrie both scored nine.

Tonight’s championship game at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium: 

8:30 pm - CI Gibson Rattlers vs Grand Bahama’s Tabernacle Baptist Falcons.