NPBA playoffs: Shockers advance, Sand Dollar tie series

By TENAJH SWEETING

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

IN this past weekend’s New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) playoff action, the Caro Contractors Shockers swept the University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes 2-0 to wrap up the first-round series.

In a matchup that was highly competitive from the opening tip, UB looked to even things up with the Shockers trading timely buckets and leads throughout the game.

For every big basket by the Shockers, UB had a response to keep things close going into the final period.

Things turned in the final quarter as the Shockers jumped out to a surprising nine-point lead on the Mingoes which looked to seal things as it was their biggest lead of the night.

However, UB responded and closed in 70-69, making it a tight finish as time seemed to run away from both teams.

The Shockers ultimately closed out the Mingoes 74-69 to advance to round two of the NPBA Playoffs.

Garret Bullard, head coach of the Caro Contractors Shockers, talked about how it felt to knock out the Mingoes.

“Well, it’s a feel good win, they threw us out the last time we played in the playoffs, but credit to UB, they played well,” according to Bullard.

Bullard added that the Mingoes played a well-fought game and you could tell that they were not ready to go home.

However, he credits his team’s ability to hold their composure, and overall experience for guiding them to the big win.

The Shockers’ team left it all on the court in a total team effort as they had five players that scored double digits. Spurgeon Johnson led the team with 18 points in the victory.

The team’s second highest scorer William Rigby poured in 14 points on the night along with 18 big rebounds and five assists.

Teammates Jackson Dalmond and Rameno King also notched double doubles en route to the five-point win. Dalmond finished with 10 points to pair with 10 boards and King had 11 points with 10 boards as well.

In a tightly matched game, offensive rebounds and second chance points proved to be the difference between the division one teams. The CCS grabbed 27 offensive rebounds in this weekend’s match up to go with 22 second-chance points. Meanwhile, UB grabbed 13 to go with only eight second-chance points on the night.

Lavar Johnson, assistant coach for the Mingoes, said he credited the experience and big shots at the end of the game for the Shockers’ win. But overall, despite the inexperience of this new Mingoes team, he is proud of the progress they have made from the beginning of this season to this point.

Johnson added the team will continue to work on their system and developing the players for next time around.

The Shockers will look to carry some of this first-round momentum into the second round as they will face the undefeated Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets 8:30pm Tuesday at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.