By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Commonwealth Bank Giants’ bid at a perfect season was ruined on Friday night after their Your Essential Giants’ division II team also suffered a defeat in the New Providence Basketball Association’s best-of-seven championship series.

In the feature game at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the PJ’s Stingers posted a 99-91 decision over the Giants, snapping their undefeated regular and postseason record to even the series at 1-1.

And in the opener, the defending champions Breezes High Flyers evened their series at 1-1 as they took apart the YES Giants 108-101.

Both series will continue with game three tonight as the NPBA continues the process of determining its two representatives in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s National Round Robin Tournament in Bimini April 11-13.

Tonight

8pm - YES Giants vs Breezes High Flyers (Division II)

9:30pm - PJ’s Stingers vs Commonwealth Bank Giants (Division I)

Stingers 99, Giants 91: Commonwealth Bank realized that all good things must come to an end and it came at the expenses of PJ’s, who are out to get their second title in five years.

The Stingers opened a 28-20 first quarter lead that they extended to 58-42 at the half. When they came our of the locker room, they increased their margin to 72-60.

The Giants, looking for a two-peat feat this year, stormed back with a 33-27 spurt in the fourth, but it was a little too late as they watched their perfect season go down the drain.

“It was an epic battle. My boys played the way they were suppose to play and that was how we got the victory,” said PJ’s head coach Lavardo Bowleg. “We got the jitters out and we came out and played ball.

“It was good that we were the first team to beat them this year, but it ain’t over yet. That was just one game.”

Eugene Bain had a monster game high 37 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field and 14-of-18 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 13 rebounds and dished out three passes.

Salathiel Dean had a solid all around game with 14 points, 22 rebounds, nine assists, two block shots and a steal. Henry Rolle had 10 points with seven rebounds and two assists;l Devon Ferguson also had 10 points with four assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Randy Williams came off the bench with 11 points and three rebounds and Brian Bain, back in the lineup after being ejected in game one, chipped in with eight points, three assists and two rebounds.

Jeffrey Henfield came off the bench and exploded for 26 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals to lead Commonwealth Bank. Jackson Jacob also came off the bench with 21 points, six assists and four rebounds.

D’Shon Taylor had 14 points, 19 rebounds, three steals and two assists and Michael Bain also stepped up with 14 points, seven assists, six steals and four rebounds.

“This isn’t nothing that we have gone through before, going undefeated, only to drop a game,” Giants’ head coach Perry Thompson said. “We knew it was just a matter of time whether we stay undefeated or lose one.

“We didn’t play up to our capabilities. We missed too many shots and didn’t defend well. When that happens, it’s hard to come out with the victory. But we’re a veteran team. We know how to bounce back.”

Once they get in a practice before tonight’s game three, Thompson said they will be okay.

Bowleg, who has had the Stingers in the league for the past seven years, admits that the Giants are not easy, that’s why they are the defending champions. But he’s confident that as long as they continue to play the way they are capable of playing, they should be able to get their second title since winning the first one in 2015.

High Flyers 108, Giants 101: They say never under-estimate the heart of a champion. Breezes proved that as they rattled from an opening loss to the first year YES Giants to get back on track for a three-peat.

The 1-2 punch of Jeremy Neely, with 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, along with Dario Saunders with 22 points and three rebounds, was good enough to propel the High Flyers to victory.

Justin Gardiner came off the bench and contributed 14 points and seven rebounds; Dave Davis had 11 points and six rebounds and Devontee Gibson, Johnathan Johnson (off the bench with three rebounds) and Brendon Stubbs (also off the bench with five rebounds and five assists), all chipped in with eight points.

“We shot the ball very well, cut down on our turnovers and my two top scorers were on top of their game,” said Breezes’ head coach Donnie Culmer. “We played like we should have played in game one. Hopefully that same intensity can carry over on Monday night and throughout the rest of the series.”

Breezes came out with vengeance as they opened the first quarter on a 31-19 tear and pushed it to 55-35 at the half. They were up 87-60 after three quarters, only to watch as the Giants rallied for a 41-27 rout in the fourth, again, a little too late as they suffered the loss.

“I liked what I saw being down by 20 points at the half and the way they battled back in the second half,” said Perry Thompson, the Giants;’ head coach. “We had a lot of intensity to cut the lead down to four, although it slipped away from us.

“That was encouraging enough for us against a veteran team. We tried something new in this game, but everyone wasn’t clicking. Hopefully on Monday night, everybody will be on the same page.”

Thompson said they will be back to go to war tonight.

While he admits that the Giants are tough opponents, Culmer said they are looking to finish them off by game six of the series. But he said if it goes to game seven, he’s still looking to be the champions again.