The defending champions in the 1st Division of the 24th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament have put themselves in an uncomfortable spot after losing their first two matches.
In a highly anticipated matchup between the defending champions Court Kings and East Blazers, the challengers controlled the contest from the opening tip, establishing a 32-19 halftime lead before a 60-44 victory on Wednesday.
Reigning tournament MVP and national player Jermaine John once again demonstrated why he remains one of Bequia’s premier players, finishing with a dominant 29 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals.
Joeel Baptiste also delivered an outstanding performance for East Blazers with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 7 steals before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
For Court Kings, the defeat marks a difficult start to their title defence.
After capturing the 23rd Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament championship last year, the defending champions have now lost their opening two games and will need to fight hard in the weeks ahead if they hope to retain their first-place status and successfully defend their crown.
The Court Kings-East Blazers matchup came as action continued an exciting slate of games on Wednesday and Thursday as young athletes and senior players thrilled spectators with competitive basketball at the Clive Tannis Hard Court.
Wednesday’s action began in the Under-12 Division, where the Ninjas secured a convincing 12-3 victory over the Falcons. Chase Kydd led the way for the Ninjas with 6 points.
The Under-16 Division followed with a close contest as Golden Knights edged Titans 12-11. Jeremy Hunte starred for the Golden Knights with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 steals and 1 block.
Despite the narrow defeat, Titans’ Aaden Dennie produced a great all-round performance, finishing with 5 points, 3 rebounds, an impressive 15 steals and 1 block.
Youth Division games continued on Thursday after Sunday’s scheduled fixtures were postponed due to heavy rain.
In the Under-12 Division, newcomers Grinches and Seagulls produced an entertaining contest that required overtime after both teams finished tied at four points.
Symon Miller scored the decisive basket in the extra period — accounting for all six of his team’s points — to hand the Grinches a 6-4 victory.
The Under-16 Division saw the Titans bounce back with a 12-8 victory over the Hornets.
Ray “Rainbow” Joseph led the Titans with an excellent all-round display of 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 14 steals and 3 blocks. Tevaughn Lloyd paced the Hornets with 5 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks.
The Bequia Basketball Association has expressed its satisfaction with the opening week of the tournament, highlighting the tremendous community support and strong attendance at the games.
“The Association was particularly encouraged by the large number of parents and family members who turned out to cheer on the youth division teams, reinforcing the importance of grassroots basketball development on the island,” the press release said.
“The Association remains committed to growing the sport of basketball in Bequia by providing meaningful opportunities for young athletes while maintaining a competitive and entertaining senior competition.”
In support of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ hosting of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket matches at Arnos Vale Stadium, there will be no Bequia Basketball Association games this weekend, allowing sports supporters the opportunity to attend the regional cricket event.
The tournament resumes on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with the following fixtures:
- Under-12: Seagulls vs. Ninjas
- Under-16: Golden Knights vs. Titans
Second Division:
- Rising Stars vs. Apex Elite