BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Violence and unsportsmanlike conduct continued to dog Virgin Gorda’s Summer Jam Basketball League for the second successive weekend, as another player went berserk. Angry and dissatisfied with the outcome of the deciding B division weekend game, Pure Playaz’s Lyndon Chiverton took the four feet championship trophy and smashed it to pieces before it could be presented to Cronics.

As officials prepared to present the championship trophy to Cronics following their 77-74 victory over Pure Playaz, Chiverton walked over to the scorers area, took the trophy and smacked it on the concrete table several times, breaking it into pieces, before throwing the debris over the fence.
Pure Playaz led throughout the deciding game five except the final three minutes when Cronics tied the score at 68-68 on Dalvern Blyden’s free throw. Players on both teams benefited from generous referee calls, but Pure Playaz thought too many calls were made against them.

Summer Jam president Trevor “West” Stevens declined to comment on Chiverton’s senseless behavior, anything surrounding the league or any possible punishment. However, another official said the referees let the game get out of hand. “They never took control of the game and made questionable calls against both teams,” the official said.

Chiverton’s unsportsmanlike antics comes on the heels of last week’s fiasco and was the third violent act since the playoffs began. Playing against his brother William “Ice Willy” Penn on Ice Connection in last weekend’s ‘A’ division championship series, Jam Squad’s Franklyn “Rasta” Penn lost his cool with 5:28 left in the first half. He tossed the ball over the wall after disagreeing with a referee’s call then threw water on the court with his team trailing 49-28. His actions ended play. Ice Connection swept the series 3-0.

When the playoffs began, vandals sabotaged the league by cutting wires to the electrical system and score clock, following the first game after Jam Squad beat Bigger Judgment. No suspects have been identified.

Two years ago, Ronnie ‘Gola’ Simmonds was given a five year ban for his unsportsmanlike behavior in a game between Virgin Gorda and Tortola in the Champion of Champions Tournament. When Stevens took over the league this year, he disregarded the previous administration’s ruling and allowed Simmonds to play. Indiscipline has plaguing the 2003 league and the executive has never disciplined anyone.