The Hon. Julian Fraser Save The Seed National Intermediate Basketball League Ended It's Regular Season On Sunday September 29th 2013
And Excitment Filled The Air
 

Avengers & West Gunners flying high in Hon. Fraser League
 - Gilas & Top Shottas fail to make playoffs -

October 1st, 2013 |  

DUFFS BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – The regular season closed on the weekend in the Hon. Julian Fraser/Save the Seed National Intermediate Basketball League with a slew of double doubles, including Alliston Leonard’s in a low scoring 69-53 win for Top Shottas against Gilas, at the Save the Seed Energy Center in Duffs Bottom on Saturday September 28, 2013.
 
Leonard finished a rather turgid game with 21 points and 10 rebounds, along with 4 steals and 2 assists, to lead his team to the win.

For long periods of the game it seemed like neither team wanted to win!

In fairness, both teams were out of contention for playoff spots and it was no real surprise that Gilas were short-handed and the game started nearly 30 minutes late despite the referees, the scorers and even the Hon. Marlon A. Penn and Hon. Julian Fraser, RA in the waiting crowd.

Hon. Penn of course was there for the second game featuring the team he sponsors, but maybe he also took home some pointers for the East End Christmas League, which is just around the corner.

As for the game itself, it took well over two minutes for Gilas to open the scoring and 4 minutes for Top Shottas to equalize. The score was 6-6 with 3 minutes of the 1stquarter left and then with 2 minutes to go Requan Fahie, with a 3 pointer, and Tyrone Tyson gave Gilas a 5-point lead at 11-6 before Tyrone Donovan pulled it back to 13-10 for the Top Shottas by sinking a free throw after being fouled on making his original shot.

Well into the 2nd quarter, Denson Thomas gave Top Shottas the lead at 14-13 after latching onto a long floated pass and then finger rolling in another score. However, the lead was short lived as Fahie soon put Gilas back ahead at 15-14. The lead would change hands many times in the final 6 minutes of the half. Jamal Turnbull splashed a 3 pointer, his only score of the night, to level the game at 17-17  and then an off colour Clark Santillan, nick named “the fast and the furious”, sunk a 2 to give his team the edge at 19-17.

Tyson was next to give the Gilas a slender lead before Top Shottas leveled the game and then Leonard put them ahead at 23-25. Tyson once more netted to give Gilas a lead and then Jason Dunkley scored his only points of the night to give the Shottas a half time lead of 27-26.

Whatever was said on the Top Shottas bench at half time galvanized them into action during the 3rd quarter as they threatened to run away with the game.

First Donovan and then Ephraim Gordon scored to give them a 4-point advantage, their biggest lead of the game and then Thomas and Leonard turned that into an 8-point lead with 3.45 gone in the ¼ and Gilas yet to add to their total.

Gilas reduced the deficit with first Tyson and then Lucky Reyes scoring, but Top Shottas would never let them within 5 points for the duration.

The 4th quarter started with Top Shottas leading 47-42, but they were the only team to score in the next 60 seconds. Gilas then matched that to be the only side to score in the next 60 seconds and Leonard the only scorer in the 3rd minute of the ¼.

The game then fluctuated between an 11 point and a 9 point difference as they players traded shots and free throws and the game was well over with over 2 minutes left to play.

Apart from Leonard’s double, Donovan finished with 19 points, Thomas 10 with 9 rebounds and Gordon 6. For Gilas Mackebo Fahie notched 18 points, Tyson 16 and 12 rebounds, Requan Fahie 10 with 11 rebounds and Santillan 6 points.

Saturday’s second game saw Talk Done beat Avengers 85-81, with Tyrone Martin hitting 27 points. Nicols Charles finished with 15 and Kevon Lettsome 11 as the east end boys cemented top spot in their division.

The Avengers, who got a double double of 26 points and 10 rebounds from Radley Stevens, finished the regular season with an identical 5 and 3 records as the Gunners, courtesy of wins on Sunday September 29, 2013.

Gavin Frett also doubled with 10 points and 11 rebounds whilst Shaheed Collins notched 10 points and Jamez Stoutt 7.

The West Gunners beat Da 3rd, 91-83 to finish joint top of the standings with the Avengers, who beat Top Shottas 81-78.

Alexander Jarvis top scored for the Gunners with 22 points. Kyle Abraham added 18, Deshawn Hodge 16 and Keshaun Pope 9 whilst Mikey Joseph hit 25 for Da 3rd and Alward Forbes 17. Rushawn Johnson reached 11 and Ivan Leonard just missed out on a double with 9 points and 8 rebounds.

In the Avengers win, Sundy Nadal hit a double of 24 points and 11 rebounds, Stoutt hit 16, Collins 15 and Omy Reyes 10 along with 8 rebounds. Melvin Richards led Top Shottas with a double of 16 points and 13 rebounds whilst Thomas hit 16, Donovan 13 and Nateshon Thomas 10 with 8 rebounds.

Ruff House then rounded out the weekend with a 100 – 88 win against College Boyz.

Shamoii Dagou notched 35 points in the comfortable win and Roger Farrington 18. Ashfield Frett added 13 and Shakoy George finshed with 11. For the College Boyz, Kamal Brown scored 15, both Ashley Ritter and Shakeem Freeman 13 whilst Carlisle Freeman hit 11.

Next Saturday, October 5, is All Star Night with a game featuring the best of the 9-12’s at 5 P.M. followed by a 3-point shootout at 6.30 P.M.

An “Old School” match up takes place at 7.30 P.M. and then a Slam Dunk competition before the evening ends with the East v West Intermediate All Star match up.

Taking it all in as a spectator at the final games was 8th District Representative Hon. Marlon Penn (front center in yellow shirt) and Hon. Julian Fraser, RA to his right.

Alliston Leonard led Top Shottas to an 69-53 win with a double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Action in the Hon. Julian Fraser/Save the Seed National Intermediate League at the Save the Seed Energy Center in Duffs Bottom on Saturday September 28, 2013. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO