Mystics' Gary 'The Glove' Hillhouse, left, and East Rockers'

Dwayne 'Kobo' Penn at the tip off of their rivalry

 Virgin Gorda Mystics start rivalry with blowout of East Rockers

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

It wasn’t really to begin this way or was it? Two Virgin Gorda basketball teams—the Junior and Senior Mystics—sailing in to Tortola and blowing out two former BVI Basketball Federation champs in back to back games on a Sunday night? Not so quickly at least your say? Well, they did!

The Mystics—playing in their first indoor game worked their magic in blowing out their East Rockers counterparts by 18 and 14 points respectively, in the BVI Big Ballers League at the Multipurpose Sports Complex on Sunday night.

Garry ‘The Glove’ Hillhouse had a 27 point 18 rebound double double to lead the Sr. Mystics past the East Rockers 76-62, after bolting to a 45-31 halftime lead. Garvin ‘The Kid’ Stevens added another 14 points. Cardinal ‘Wolf’ Fahie scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half for the East Rockers. He also had 11 rebounds and three steals. Jahmal ‘Trigga’ Rabsatt added 16 points and David ‘Bolo’ Lettsome 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“One of the biggest things about the East Rockers is that they love to run. What we were trying to do on offense was to slow the ball down, so they had to stay there and play defense instead of running up and down the court,” Mystics coach Arnold Collins explained. “We were able to control that aspect of the game and did not allow them to get that second shot. We just wanted them to get one shot.”

East Rockers coach Louis ‘Doc’ Frett said his team missed too many easy shots. “We haven’t practiced as a team and that caused us to miss those easy open shots,’ Frett noted. “But we will work out and get our game together.”

For Virgin Gorda players to travel to Tortola to play indoor basketball, Collins said is a good opportunity for them to get a feel of playing inside. “I think this game was just a test for my players, as it is the first time coaching this team to analyze them playing as a team,” Collins said, stopping short of saying it was the start of a rivalry against the top Tortola teams. “I think it’s a good challenge for basketball within the territory to have players from Tortola and Virgin Gorda competing. It’s a good thing.”

In the other game, Tristin Creque had a triple double as Jr. Mystics whipped the Jr. East Rockers 76-58, after holding a 44-22 halftime edge. Creque had 13 points, pulled 14 boards to go with 11 steals. Leandon Creque and Travis Issac added 14 and 12 points respectively. Tad Martin had a game best 24 points, 11 rebounds and six steals for Jr. East Rockers. Garvin Frett chipped in 14 points and had six steals.

In a game of missed opportunities on both sides, the Latinos regrouped to beat the Hawkeyes 90-85 on Saturday. After blowing a seven point lead then falling behind 85-84, the Latinos missed eight consecutive free throws in the last 1:08 of the game before regrouping to make four straight free throws for the victory. Andy Ramirez scored 21 of his game high 38 points in the second half—including four 3-pointers—and pulled 22 rebounds to lead the Latinos. Angel Rodriguez finished with a 12 point 11 rebound double, double with six steals. Pablo Vasquez added another 13 points. Akim Moses was the Hawkeyes leading scorer with 18 points, while Kyle Rhymer chipped in 15. David Archer and Wakimba Lettsome added 14 points a piece.

“We played hard like we do all the time,” noted Latinos coach Claudio Ortega who saw his team capitalizing on numerous Hawkeyes turnouvers. “The game was sloppy, but we didn’t have many players on the bench to go to. But, we played some good defense. Once you play good defense the offense will come by itself.”

In analyzing her team, Hawkeyes coach Regina Robles said they need practice. “We had a lot of opportunities and we just blew them. Every time something happened they blamed it on the ref or the ref made a bad call,” she noted. “A bad call cannot win a game. There are other things that should have been done throughout the game that were not done.”

Robles said turnovers hurt her team. “That comes from practice and once we get the chemistry of working together and getting things done, it will fall in to place,” Robles explained. “But, the Latinos won’t beat us again.”

Dudley Richardson missed a double double with 32 points and nine rebounds, in the Guns’ 84-71 victory over the Fryers. Paul Stoutt was three for three from 3-point range. Caleb Liburd was 7 for 10 from the free throw line for 26 points to go with 12 rebounds and four steals for the Fryers. Keith Smith added another 12 points.

“It was a very good game,” Guns coach Andrew Fahie said. “We took the lead early and played our game. “We had good execution from our players and Paul (Stoutt) was big at outside the 3-point line going 6 for 6. All in all, it was a good game.”

Fryers coach Dean Simmonds said he expected a greater game inside from his players. “I have three 6’6” guys in the game and they were not playing to their potential at all,” Simmons noted. “We need more practice and our guys have to get fit.”

Off De Chainz stopped Last Minute 67-60. Clinelle Gumbs had 20 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead Off De Chainz. Dalvern Blyded followed up with 15 points. Jermaine Hopkins led Last Minute with 19 points and dished out eight assists and had five steals. Benson Thomas and Michael Bassue added 12 points each.