Knights capture 5th straight GSSSA title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE everybody else did it in a two-game sweep, the CR Walker Knights had to go to a third and deciding game before they captured their fifth straight Government Secondary Schools Sports Association senior girls championship title. Saturday night's victory was a sweet one for coach Kent Lightbourn who also celebrated his birthday. His present came in the form of a 30-26 victory over the CV Bethel Stingrays in a keenly contested match-up. "Oh my God, I'm not going to tell you no lie, when we started off this five-straight feat, I would have just been happy with one, but every year every one after that was a must win and a must have championship," Lightbourn said. "It just feels so good to get five. I have to thank Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, for really helping our team and pulling us together. When the going got tough, we had to pull in coach (Jimmy) Clarke, who prayed for us. He told us some things and we just got it together." CR Walker joined the CI Gibson Rattlers, the TA Thompson Scorpions and the HO Nash Lions, who won the senior boys and junior boys' and girls' titles respectively on Friday. The Knights won their title by out-rebounding the Stingrays 26-21 and not allowing Shavonya Adderley to beat them in two straight games. "She's an awesome player. She's a leader, she really rallies her team behind her, but we had to take her out of the game," he said. "Once we took her out of the game and forced the other players to beat us, we were able to pull off the victory." Atlanya Morris scored a game high 14 points to lead the Knights who used an 18-2 to surge out front and never relinquished the lead. Burdaera Sands chipped in with nine. For the Stingrays, coached by Glenda Gilcud, Angel Miller paced their attack with 14 and Adderley came through, despite being double team, with 10. Gilcud, assisted by Shantelle Rolle, took exception to the officiating, noting that "if you are going to allow the girls to play, let's plays with fairness." "Let's stop being bias. Other than that, I think my girls came from a long way and they did a tremendous job." CV Bethel avoided all four of the championships being completed in two-game sweeps as they stunned CR Walker 27-21 in game two on Friday. In that game, Adderley single-handedly carried the Stingrays on her back with a game high 19 points. Shaquella Bain had eight. Burdeara Sands scored nine to pace the Knights. Rattlers vs. Cobras In a showdown between two of the top teams in the GSSSA over the last two years, CI Gibson, coached by Kevin 'KJ' Johnson, won their second title for the year over CC Sweeting, coached by Mario Bowleg. In the clincher on Friday, William Rigby scored a game high 19 and Adney Bethel had 12 as the Rattlers pulled off a close 69-68 decision for their two-game sweep. Deangelo Wallace finished with 17 and Rashad Davis added 13 in the loss. In the opener on Thursday, CI Gibson prevailed with another close encounter as they pulled off a 62-61 decision behind Rigby's 13, Bethel's 11 and Lamont Armaly's 10. Dionte Strachan scored a game high 17 and Roosevelt Whylly chipped in with 15 in the loss. Scorpions stun Pitbulls They were riding another perfect season but that all came to an end Friday as TA Thompson completed their two-game sweep with a 35-31 victory over DW Davis. Michael Bethel scored a game high 14 and Johnathon Armbrister had seven in the win. Michael Sweeting scored eight in a losing effort. Lions roar past Tigers All season long, coach Patricia 'Patty' Johnson and her HO Nash proved that they were the best junior girls team in the GSSSA and they lived up to their expectations in the postseason. The Lions completed a two-game sweep Friday as they knocked off the AF Adderley Fighting Tigers 28-23 to win another title and continue their dominance in the league.

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