The Digicel Grenadines Basketball Championship opened at the Ashton Hard Court in Union Island on Friday.
Four Grenadine islands registered tams to compete in the event. The teams are Bequia All-Stars, Canouan Islanders, Mustique Icon and Union Island All-Stars.
Defending champions, Bequia All-Stars, and their new head coach Cornelius Farrell, making his debut, went undefeated all weekend, winning all three of their games.
Union Island won two games, Mustique won one game and Canouan lost all three of their games. The official opening and march past of teams took place on Saturday.
The ceremony heard addressed from Parliamentary Representative for the Southern Grenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, Caribbean Basketball Secretary-General, President of Bequia Basketball and tournament co-ordinator, Sabrina Mitchell, as well as Digicel representative, Gershom Dick.
Mitchell welcomed all the participating teams and expressed her gratitude to Digicel for their commitment for a three-year sponsorship.
She spoke of the importance of the competition to each of the islands to give the elite players an opportunity to play at a high level of competition. She commented that the Grenadines Championship should be the culmination of a successful basketball programme in each island, where the annual competitions should act as a feeder system for the Grenadines Championship. She urged the local Associations to continue to make sure competitions are held regularly and to work hard to develop the game in every aspect — coaching , refereeing, and player development.
In that regard, Mitchell offered the help of the Bequia Basketball Association, which is now in its 16th year, and which she says, has the most successful basketball programme in SVG.
Ollivierre spoke of his support for the competition and the importance of sports in the social development of citizens for their success and well being. He thanked the tournament co-ordinator, Mitchell, for the important role she has played and continues to play in the development of sports in the Grenadines, and urged the local associations to accept her offer of help.
Meanwhile, Digicel representative, Gershom Dick, officially handed over the tournament sponsorship cheque to Mitchell, and gave Digicel’s sponsorship commitment to three years or more.
Friday night’s games saw Bequia All-Stars defeating Canouan Islanders, 59 to 52, and Union defeat Mustique 88 to 41. Saturday’s games were very exciting. Game one saw Mustique Icon defeat Canouan in overtime 72 to 67. Game 2 was a nail biter, with Bequia All-Stars defeating Union 50 to 49. Sundays’ games saw Bequia defeating Mustique 64 to 44 and Union completing the first weekend of competition by defeating Canouan 66 to 42.
The tournament continues in Canouan next weekend and will conclude in Bequia on Nov. 23 with the finals and trophy presentation.
Tournament standings as follows to date:
1st: Bequia 3-0
2nd: Union 2-1
3rd: Mustique-1-2
4th: Canouan: 0-3
Weekend Game Results:
Friday, Nov. 8 8: 2 Games
Bequia All-Stars Defeat Canouan Islanders 58 To 52
— leading scorer Bequia: Kirstin Lampkin with 18 points, 15 reb, 2 steals, 2 blocks
— leading scorer Canoaun: Warrican Garrick with 19 points, 16 rebids
Union Island Defeat Mustique 88 To 41
— leading scorer Union: Stevorn Taylor with 26 points,
— leading scorer Mustique: Ishama McKree with 16 points
Saturday, Nov. 9: 2 Games
Mustique Icon Defeat Canouan Islanders in overtime 72 To 67
— leading scorer Mustique: Ishama McKree with 17 points, 1 assists
— leading scorer Canouan:
Bequia All-Stars Defeat Union Island All-Stars 50 To 49
— leading scorer Bequia: Keithroy Lavia with 14 points, 2 steals
— leading scorer Union: Stevorn Taylor with 13 points,
Sunday, Nov. 10: 2 Games:
Bequia All-Stars Defeat Mustique Icon 64 to 44
— leading scorer Bequia:Both Michael Peniston & Kirstin Lampkin with 13 points each
— leading scorer Mustique: Ishama McKree with 26 points
Union Island Defeat Canouan 66 To 42
— leading scorer Union: Kenny Alexander with 19 points, 8 reb, 5 assists, 2 steals
— leading scorer Canouan: Kevi Kydd, Rohan Henry and Warrican Garrick, all with 12 points each
Next Games: Friday Nov. 15:
7 p.m.: Bequia vs Union
9 p.m.: Mustique vs Canouan