Hawkeye's guard Terry 'Federal' Turnbull slips past Virgin Gorda Sr. Mystics' Keithroy Farrell.

 BVI Big Ballers league set to crown Jr. champion tonight

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

After the Jr. East Rockers routed the Virgin Gorda Jr. Mystics, 82-69, in the opener of their BVI Big Ballers best of three league championship series last Friday night at the Multipurpose Sports Complex, pictures were taken of both teams before Sunday’s second game, just in case the series was swept and the losers went home. But, that was the wrong script.

So, with the four foot championship trophy already on the scorer’s desk in preparation for an after game handing over ceremony, Travis Issacs’ 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left delayed the celebrations until tonight, as he resurrected the Jr. Mystics from the jaws of defeat to a series tying 77-75, victory over the stunned Jr. East Rockers.

“This was a very, very good game. That’s all I can say,” Jr. Rockers coach Androcito ‘Cito’ Smith said, as the Jr. Mystics’ players and fans quickly left the arena to catch a ferry to Virgin Gorda, leaving no one available to comment on the thriller.

Jr. Rockers’ Travis Malone was fouled with 7.4 seconds left and converted one of two free throws for a 75-74 lead, after they overcame a 10 point deficit with 3 minutes and 41 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Issacs received an inbounds pass and went coast to coast before launching the winner just outside the 3-point line on the right side of the court.

At the halfway point in the game, the Jr. Mystics trailed the Jr. Rockers, 39-32, but outscored the Jr. Rockers 12-5 to start the third quarter and tied the game at 44-44 with 6:31 left. Issacs hit a 3-pointer to give the Jr. Mystics their first lead, 47-46, at the 4:47 mark. The Jr. Mystics then went on a 9-2 run over the next 2:35 for a 56-48, edge, and maintained their lead and got a 3-pointer from Richie Morton at the buzzer, to take a 10 point 63-53 edge into the fourth quarter, leading up to the closing drama.

Issacs scored 22 of his 34 points in the third and fourth quarters. He also had eight rebounds. Junior Fredericks added 23 points with nine rebounds and five steals. Malone missed a double double for the Jr. Rockers by tossing in 31 points and snatching nine rebounds. Martin poured in 14 points, while Leslie Smith dominated the boards with 15 and added six points.

Sunday’s other game saw Garvin Stevens’ 20 points leading six scorers in double figures as the Sr. Mystics blew out Hawkeyes, 110-74. Stevens also had eight rebounds and four blocks. Devon Watts and Dennis Allister added 18 respectively, while Watts also had nine rebounds. Gary ‘The Glove’ Hillhouse narrowly missed a double double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Mark Noel and Keithroy Farrell tossed in 13 and 10 points each. Terry ‘Federal’ Turnbull and Ackim Moses were the only Hawkeyes players to score in the first quarter and finished with 19 points each. William Penn and David Archer followed up with 14 and 12 points respectively. Archer also had seven rebounds and four assists.

On Saturday, Caleb Liburd led all five starters in double figures with 32 points, in leading the Fryers past Pure Playaz, 93-80. Liburd dished out 10 assists, had six steals and grabbed four rebounds. Keithley ‘Bait’ Liburd joined in with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Keith Smith tossed in 11 points and grabbed 14 boards, while Vern Mills and Bryan Barzey finished with 14 and 12 points respectively. Frandi Martin had 18 points to lead Pure Playaz. Dennis Hogan poured in 15 and snatched 16 rebounds. Sheldon Matthew and Elton Prentice pitched in 15 and 14 each.

In the highest scoring game this season, the Latinos erased 15 point deficits twice to lead 100-99 with 7:20 left, before surrendering to the BVIEC Shockers 131-117. Ronnie ‘Gola’ Simmonds led the Shockers with 39 points and Eli ‘Boogie’ Hodge had five 3-pointers for 36 as the leading scorers. Andy Ramirez and Pablo Vasquez—who had five 3-pointers—topped the Latinos with 27 points respectively.

Friday’s game saw Nathaniel Malone with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds, to lead five scorers in double figures in All Ah We’s 86-74 triumph over Off De Chainz. Avery Percival chipped in 15 and Lyle Duggins 14, with eight rebounds and four assists. Chaurbin Smith and Edred ‘Beef’ Stoutt finished with 12 points each. Alfred Greenaway was Off De Chainz’s top scorer with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Dalvern Blyden narrowly missed a double double with 16 points, nine rebounds and six steals. Samuel ‘Saf’ France pulled 25 rebounds and tossed in 11 points and had four blocks.

Limited to nine points in the first quarter, All On Da Line outscored East Sonics 29-20 in the third quarter, en route to a 90-71 victory. Kendall Mills scored 14 of his 21 points in the third quarter after being held to a field goal in the first half. Delon Mills added 14. Kenneth Helliger and Marvin Caines had 13 points each—with Caines snatching 15 rebounds. Vere Browne grabbed 18 off the glass and poured in 11 points. Melbourne Francis led the East Sonics with 26. Meckriel Pickering added a 16 point 18 board double double.

David ‘Bolo’ Lettsome had 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter in leading the East Rockers to their seventh straight victory, 88-70, over the Hawkeyes. Lettsome also had six rebounds and five assists. Dwayne ‘Kobo’ Penn and Jahmal ‘Trigga’ Rabsatt joined in with 22 and 17 points each. Claude Richardson dominated the boards with 15 rebounds and eight points. Terry ‘Federal’ Turnbull had 20 points to lead the Hawkeyes and William ‘Ice Willy’ Penn added 19. David Archer finished with 15, while Wakimba Lettsome had a 10 point 12 board double double.