By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net    

In a gritty comeback performance, the Commonwealth Bank Giants proved that you should “never underestimate the heart of a champion.”

Trailing by almost 20 points in the second quarter, the Giants managed to reel in the Dudley Boyz Saints from Grand Bahama for a hard fought 83-80 victory to keep the Bahamas Basketball Federation men’s division one title in New Providence.

It was a double sweep of the titles for the Giants on Saturday night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium as their Your Essential Store clinched the division II crown with a 94-79 decision over Abaco’s Net Riders.

And, in the third-place game, the Harbour Island Panthers gave coach Andrew ‘Tiny’ Pinder his final victory with a 105-71 blowout win over North and Central Andros’ Antec Saints.

While four teams participated in the division II series, only three came out in division one with Abaco’s Crusaders getting third after their 74-66 loss to Commonwealth Bank in their semifinal game.

Giants’ head coach Perry Thompson Jr said all through the tournament, his Commonwealth Bank team had to display how battle-tested they were as they prevailed in each game played, especially against Grand Bahama in the final.

“Tough win. After the first game we played Grand Bahama, their coach told me they will be back tougher and they surely brought it tonight, but this team is battle-tested,” a much relieved Thompson Jr said. 

“The New Providence division one series brought us a lot of patience and that was how we were able to dig ourselves out of the hole in the second half.”

It was a tough loss for the Dudley Boyz to digest because Denero Seide, who took over the coaching reigns from his father Dudley Seide, didn’t come through when they needed to.

“I guess the guys just got a little rattled. We were playing against a veteran Giants team,” he said. “Coming down the stretch, we fell short. I guess we got too comfortable with the lead.

“We fell down on the defence a bit and we stopped pushing the ball. That was the turnout for us.”

Seide, however, indicated that he would use this as a learning experience and regroup and hopefully return next year to give it another shot.

Behind a 1-2 punch from Dylan Musgrove and Jackson Jacob in the second half, after trailing 39-22 in the second quarter, the Giants stormed back to put their stamp of approval on the game.

Musgrove, named the most valuable player after he finished with a game high 24 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and an assist and steal, said they were not prepared to let the championship slip out of their hands.

“From the first game we played them, we knew this was going to be a tough game,” Musgrove said. “We came out a little sluggish in the first half, but we knew at the end of the game, we were going to get it done.

“We came back and executed. We fell down in the first half, but we were determined to come back in the second half and win our second title in three years.”

Down the stretch as the Giants regained their composure, Jacobs scored on a driving lay-up with one minute and 59 seconds left for an 81-76 lead. Jacobs, named the offensive player of the tournament, finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

D’Vaughn Seide gave the Dudley Boyz one last hope when he popped a three-point shot to trim the deficit to one (81-80).

Then Dastyn Baker, who didn’t play all game, came in for an offensive inbound pass, was fouled and he converted the pair of charity shots to seal the deal with 14 seconds left for the final 83-80 advantage.

During the game, Adam Johnson also came up big with 10 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and two assists before fouling out late in the fourth, Jeffrey Henfield contributed nine points with six rebounds and three assists and Eugene Bain, who was done with five fouls with about four minutes left, had eight points and five rebounds.

For Dudley Boyz, Seide finished with 16 points and seven rebounds; Shermar Pinder had 15 points, four rebounds and as many assists; before he fouled out just before Bain, Christopher ‘Chicken’ Turnquest had 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks; Davonte Jennings 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals; Raymond Higgs had nine points and 

four rebounds and Howard Burrows chipped in with eight points and six rebounds.

Giants 94, Net Riders 75: MVP Matthew Saunders was one of three players in double figures as YES made their division II final look so easy.

This one was over from the first quarter as YES established control with a 20-14 lead at the end of the first break.

After mounting a comfortable 48-27 lead at the half, the Giants kept on rolling in the second half as they opened a 72-44 spurt at the final break before they went into cruise control in the fourth.

“I’m grateful. Thank God for his grace and goodness over the years coaching the Giants and winning a whole lot,” he said. “Abaco was a good team, but we had more playing time than them in our league over here. Their coach Chancey Cooper also played for me, so I knew what they expected, but we just wanted it more.”

Saunders ended up with 21 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists and steals; Kirk Farrington had a game high 22 points with seven assists and three rebounds; Javon Adderley also had 21 points with 14 rebounds, five assists and two steals; Jeriel Francoeur had 14 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals and both Tavon Scott (eight rebounds) and Zion Hinds helped out with seven points.

For the Net Riders, Juvens Loucious had 22 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals; Javey Vil had 1 points and 12 rebounds; Eugene Ferguson had 11 points and three rebounds; Senile Bien-Aive had nine points and Benson Jean-Pierre added eight points and six rebounds.

Saunders collected the offensive player of the tournament, while Adderley took the defensive player award.

Panthers 105, Antec Saints 71: In producing one of the highest outpouring of points in the tournament, Harbour Island took their frustration out on Andros after they missed making it to the final.

The Panthers wanted to give Johnson a better end off after playing and coaching for about 45 years, but they had to settle for the consolation third place.

Jeremy Davis led the celebration with a game high 27 points, six assists, six steals and four rebounds; Christopher Grant made his presence felt with 22 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three steals; Ketrion Gilbert had 18 points; Rakeem Minnis had 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks; Sedlan Pierre had 10 points and nine rebounds and Rillen Saunders added nine points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Calvin Wells scored a game high 25 points with 10 rebounds to lead Andros. Clifton Barr had 13 points; Brandon Higgs had nine points and five rebounds and both Sam Benson (six rebounds) and  Jason Seymour helped out with eight points.

Giants 74, Crusaders 66: In the men’s division one knockout game on Saturday as well, Musgrove produced 19 points with seven rebounds as Commonwealth Bank advanced to the final.

Jacobs followed with 17 points, three assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds; Baker had 16 points, three rebounds and two assists and Kevin Cooper Jr had eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.

For Abaco, Godfrey Rolle Jr had a game high 19 points with three rebounds and two assists; defensive player of the tournament Chauncey Cooper had 18 points and nine rebounds and Tiano Roberts finished with 17 points.

Results from other games played during the tournament are as follows:

Division one - Giants def. Saints 73-62; Saints def. Crusaders 84-57; 

Division II - Panthers def. Defenders 84-63; Riders def. Antec Saints 77-44; Giants def. Defenders 92-68; Giants def. Antec Saints 105-47; Riders def. Panthers 69-58; Antec Saints def. Defenders 95-91; Riders def. Defenders 93-65 and Giants def. Panthers 74-64.