Disciples' Halstead "J.R." Chiverton defends against Bad Boys' Roger Frank during the second half of Saturday's Game

First BVI indoor basketball league kicks off with 16 teams

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Basketball starved fans finally exhaled last Saturday when the Big Ballers basketball league kicked off at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Road Town, marking the first indoor league in the BVI.

After patiently waiting since 2001 when construction of the Complex began following the last BVI Amateur Basketball Federation league, the Ballers league was the first local basketball action .The facility opened on June 27, followed by a July 2 celebrity game featuring NBA Golden State Warriors star Jason Richardson and last weekend’s OECS Men’s Volleyball Championships.

After his team suffered a loss to the Disciples, Bad Boys coach Wade Smith said it was exciting to be playing indoors. “I’m glad to see all the players having the opportunity to play in this arena,” Smith said. “They have waited for quite a while. I think it’s also exciting for the public and the fans.” His counterpart Verne “Bago” Turnbull said he felt as if he was playing stateside. “I love it,” he said.

In the first game played, Claudio Ortega had a 21 point, 11 rebound double to lead Pure Playaz to a 65-56 win over the Apostles. Sheldon Matthew added 12. Elton Charles and Tyron Tyson—who made the first shot in the new arena—were the Apostles leading scorers with 13 and 12 points a piece. Pure Playaz outscored the Apostles 34-25 after both played to a 31-31 halftime tie.

The senior game saw Halstead “J.R.” Chiverton and Wayne “Baby Fat” Campbell leading the Disciples to a 76-72 victory over Bad Boys. Chiverton and Campbell had 19 points and 7 rebounds respectively to lead the Disciples. Jason Taylor added another 13 points. Keyon Thomas led Bad Boys with 19 points and a game high 18 rebounds. Roger Frank chipped in another 18.

“The game was shabby, but, I know most of the players and I did what I could do for this first game,” Turnbull, Disciples debuting coach said. “We started our defense and passing and we stopped in the second and third quarters, but restarted it with the help of Calvin Henley. Roger (Frank) kept the Bad Boys alive with his passes and we had to try and contain him, send him to the left side so that we could get rebounds.

Smith said his team “did a great job” but lost the game. “I don’t think they beat us. We lost the game on defense and we took some terrible shots in the end,” Smith said. But, we came back, we went ahead and on the defensive side, we did not hold up our end. On the offensive side we took too many terrible shots. We have to go back and practice a little harder and we’ll be back.”

After trailing most of Sunday’s first game, Run It Red escaped with a thrilling 72-71 come from behind victory over the Bulldogs. Kyle Scatliffe was fouled with 0.2 seconds left, but missed both free throws that would have given the Bulldogs the victory.

“Just like Boston has a curse against New York, the Bulldogs have never beaten me yet,” Run It Red’s coach Shawn Morris explained. “From time I played in the B league, a West End team has never beaten a Sea Cows Bay team yet. They have a curse on them. Until they beat us, I don’t see them reaching anywhere. It’s we they have to pass.”

Duron Phillips had 14 of his game high 35 points in the fourth quarter to lead Run It Red. He also pulled 19 rebounds to go with six blocks and four steals. Joel Sebastian missed a triple double with nine points, 22 rebounds and 10 steals. Scatliffe led the Bulldogs with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Tshaun Henley also had 16 points and seven rebounds while Andre Stoutt and Kamni O’Neal chipped in 14 and 12 points respectively.

Bulldogs coach Andrew Fahie described his team as a young one with several players entering the league for the firs time. “They did excellent,” he said. “They just missed some free throws and made some turnovers coming down to the end and that’s what lost the game for us.”

Morris returned as player/coach to lead the Rebels past Millennium 68-64 in a senior division game. Marlon Meyers led the Rebels with 22 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. Reynaldo Smith had a 16 point 11 rebound double double, while Morris finished with 13 points and pulled 10 boards. Neville Smith and Akiba Forde had Millennium’s leading scores with 17 points respectively. Smith had 11 rebounds and Forde seven. Henry Varlack added another 10 points.

“We are a little shaky because we did not practice before the league started, but, it was an alright game,” Morris noted. “I told my guys to play the usual running game we play, because most of the guys on Millennium are old. They have a couple young guys, but, the majority of those guys are over 30. They are old men compared to us.”

Millennium’s coach Allen Wheatley said the game was a competitive battle and the better man came out in front. “It’s simple. We have to practice,” Wheatley said. “Millennium is a very simple team. It constitutes experience and youthfulness. It’s just a matter of taking time out, blending it and making it happen.”

League coordinator Rhodni Skelton said he was happy with the first weekend. “ I know everybody who came had a great time,” Skelton said. “I want the public to know that games will start early and finish early. It’s not like what you’re accustomed to. Just prepare for that.”