Giants, High Flyers take title

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The Commonwealth Bank Giants celebrate.

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Basketball Association concluded its 2017-18 season with champions crowned in both divisions over the weekend.

Division I

Commonwealth Bank

Giants – 96

Rockets – 85

Giants win series 3-1

AFTER losing game three, the Giants recovered from the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season to close out the series in five games on Saturday night.

D’Shon Taylor scored a game high 27 and shot 13 of which came from the free throw line on just 14 attempts. Michael Bain Jr had 21 points and six steals, Tehran Cox scored 12 and David Taylor scored 10.

Tomeko Moxy led the Rockets in scoring for the first time this series with 24 points. Cordaro Pinder scored 18, Livingston Munnings had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Lyndrick Storr scored 10.

The Rockets led by as much as seven in the opening quarter with Moxey’s three-pointer to go ahead 16-9. Bain brought the Giants within two late in the quarter, but the Rockets tacked on a pair of Munnings free throws and a Pinder three-pointer for a 27-22 lead.

Storr’s layup early in the second half gave the Rockets a 35-29 lead, but a 7-1 run for the Giants capped by a Kevin Hinsey three pointer tied the game at 36. Tied again at 41, the Giants got scores from Ishmael Curtis and Tehrad Rahming. Storr would make a three and Curtis’ final field goal of the quarter gave the Giants a 47-44 lead at the half.

The Giants broke the game open in the third quarter with a 14-0 run over the course of the first 2:30 of the period.

Taylor opened the third with back-to-back three-point plays and Bain’s layup pushed the lead to double figures for the first time. Taylor would score 10 of the team’s 14 during the run and his free throws gave them a 61-44 lead. Munnings would finally end the run with his layup. The lead reached beyond 20 when Taylor made another pair at the line for a 67-46 lead with 3:31 left to play in the third. Another trip to the line gave the Giants a 72-56 lead headed into the fourth. The lead was as much as 18 in the final period and the Rockets never came within eight. Barry Carter split a pair at the line

In game four Friday night, the Giants were powered by a double double from Gamaliel Rose with his best game of the series; 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 101-88 win. Bain scored 15, Taylor and Jervonne Atkins both finished with 12 and Karon Pratt scored 10. Munnings led the Rockets with 27 points and 14 rebounds while Eugene Bain scored 24.

Division II

Breezes High Flyers – 100

Aliv Bucket Team – 99

High Flyers win series 4-0

For the second consecutive year, the Breezes High Flyers claimed the division II title by a single point in a thrilling finish to a deciding game.

It took overtime to decide it, but the High Flyers clinched the 2017-18 championship powered by a high scoring starting five that all reached double figures.

Dave Davis finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds, both game highs. Shanton Pratt nearly finished with a triple double, 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Jeremy Neely and Enrico Bethel each scored 19 and Devontee Gibson scored 11. Delano Forbes added eight off the bench.

Kieran Mortimer led the Bucket Team with 22 points, Anwar Neilly scored 18, Rashad Ingraham had 16 points and 15 rebounds. James Rolle scored 16 and Dylan Musgrove added 12.

In last year’s championship series, the Flyers made a free throw with 12 seconds left to give them a 75-74 win over the Johnson’s Truckers in the deciding game of the series.

That momentum carried over to the Bahamas Basketball Federation Nationals where the High Flyers claimed the national title over the Marsh Harbour Hoppers, 61-60 on Neely’s go ahead free throw with 14 seconds remaining

Pratt was named the MVP. He scored 20 points with three rebounds, two assists and as many steals. Dwight Moss and Forbes both had six points and six rebounds to help out.