The Bahamas Basketball Federation's Annual BTC Bunny Levarity National Championships ended with the two titles shared between New Providence and Grand Bahama at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Saturday night. Athletico Bahamas, a youthful team comprising of high school and recent graduates, made good of their first opportunity to play among their peers as they captured the B divisional title with a 64-62 triumph over Grand Bahama's Gold Rock Gym Rats. But in the men's A division, the Grand Bahama Shipyard Cruisers sent the trio of MVP Scott Forbes (196-F-75, college: FIU), Quentin Hall (174-G-77, college: Gonzaga) and Franco Miller (187-SG) into retirement as they teamed up to help pull off a 73-72 nail biter over the Mail Boat Cybots There was no ladies' division contested, leaving the Bommer G Lady Operators without any challenge to determine just how invincible they are after going undefeated in the New Providence Women's Basketball Association. Cruisers 73, Cybots 72: Clemente Martin hit a pair of free throws with one minute remaining to give Grand Bahama their final score. But with about 22 seconds, the Mail Boat had a chance to win the game, but Brian Bain rolled over on the floor trying to retrieve a loose ball and was called for traveling. The Shipyard got the ball and they ran out the clock as they began their celebrations. 'This was a long time coming,' said Cruisers' head coach Ross Burrows. 'We built this team for the nationals. This was our purpose all season to come home and win the nationals.' The Cruisers beat the Cybots for the second time in the tournament, winning 91-87 in overtime on Thursday night as Quentin Hall scored his only four points of the game in the extra period, including the game winning free throw. Hall, hitting 6-of-11 three pointers, finished with a game high 18 points with four rebounds to lead the Cruisers' offensive attack when it counted the most in the final. Martin finished with 12 points, three assists and three block shots; Scott Forbes scored 11 points with nine rebounds, five steals and four blocks in winning the MVP; Franco Miller had nine points, six steals, four rebounds and four assists and Irvin Lewis added nine points with six rebounds. 'Hats of to them. That was a hell of a game. I only wished more people was out there,' Hall said of the challenge they got from the Cybots. 'That was a really good game, but it is what it is.' And according to Forbes, it's the end of the line for the talented trio - himself, Hall and Miller. 'We put all of our energy and effort out here for this one. We finally got one together and so we're not going to challenge that and come back and get our behinds beat,' he said. 'That's it.' Miller concurred, calling it a memorable ride. 'This has been fun. We've been doing this for years at every level, together we just bring out the best in each other,' Miller stressed. 'It's good to see that we end our career on a high note. That's it. It's done.' The Cybots got 17 points with 11 rebounds from Eugene Bain (195-C/F-88, college: Bellevue). Georgio Walkes had 13 points and five rebounds; Livingstone Munnings 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks, while Lerecus Armbrister came through with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. But coach Wayde Watson said it wasn't the way he wanted his Mail Boat to sail into the summer break. 'We had the game. With 24 seconds and in possession of the ball, the worse scenario was to turn it over and that is what we did,' he said. 'We should have attacked the basket and at least get a foul, if we didn't score. But it didn't play out the way I expected.' Now there's more questions than answers for Watson as he look ahead to next season. 'It's going to be a long summer. Some of these guys have been playing in the league for a long time and they wanted to win,' he said. 'We will have to sit down and evaluate what we want to do and go from there. We had a fairly good season, but our goal was to win the national title and we didn't do that.' After leading 20-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Cybots found themselves trailing the Cruisers 39-36 at the half. Grand Bahama sailed into the fourth with a slim 54-52 margin at the end of the third. The Mail Boat managed to tie the score 57-57 in the first three minutes of the fourth, thanks to a three-pointer from Brian Bain. But the Grand Bahama Shipyard was able to surge ahead 66-59 on the trail end of a lay-up from Leon Cooper. With 1:48, Lerecus Armbrister's jumper pulled the Cybots within two, 70-68. But the Cruisers were able to stay ahead and held on for the close encounter. Athletico Bahamas 64, Gold Rock Gym Rats 62: With 6.1 seconds left on the clock, Shakwon Lewis canned a pair of free throw to lift Athletico Bahamas to their B divisional title. 'I felt very confident. I've been working hard on my game and so I felt I deserved to go for the win because I tried the team on my back,' said Lewis, who is not expected to return next year as he's scheduled to go of to college in August. 'It's a good feeling to win.' While Lewis ended up with 16 points and seven assists, Dylan Musgrove exploded for a game high 26 points with six rebounds to earn the MVP honors. Jamaris King chipped in with eight points. Adam Johnson was held to just three points with eight rebounds. 'This is a great win. We're a young new team, but we played hard to get this win,' said Musgrove, the son of former basketball star Gordon 'Slanks' Musgrove. 'We overcame the doubts that a lot of people had about us. We are the division II champions.' Franklyn Petion, who tied the score at 62-62 in a jumper with 21.5 seconds to play, led Grand Bahama with 16 points and six rebounds. Pedro Williams added 13 points and six rebounds as well. Franco Miller contributed 11 points with nine rebounds and Kaleel Solomon added 10 points. 'It was a good game fought by both teams. Mu guys came out strong, but we made two mistakes in the latter part of the game and we were not successful,' said Gym Rats; coach Arnold Mather. 'Hats of to the Nassau they. They played very well and they won the game.' The Gold Rock led 18-12 after the first quarter, only to relinquish the lead to Ahletico in the second quarter as they held a slim 33-32 margin at the half. Athletico again led 49-46 at the end of the third, but it was a close encounter throughout the fourth. Courtesy of: tribune242.com
Bennet Davis selected the top Bahamian playing abroad in last week's games - 11 hours ago
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We bring you last week's top performances from Bahamians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level. This week's number one is an experienced former international forward Bennet Davis (206-84, agency: Inception Sports). Davis could not help MAFC in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team was crushed 96-61 on the road by the lower-ranked (#4) Falco-Vulcano.
[read more]
We bring you last week's top performances from Bahamians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international forward Bennet Davis (206-84, agency: Inception Sports, college: Northeastern, currently plays in Hungary). Davis could not help MAFC in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team was crushed 96-61 on the road by the lower-ranked (#4) Falco-Vulcano.
Davis was the top scorer with 20 points. He also added 9 rebounds and 3 assists in 36 minutes on the court.
It's Davis' first season with the team.
Davis has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 19.0ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 57.8%(26-45) and FT: 91.7% in four games he played so far.
Worth to mention he played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. Davis played for the Bahamas senior national team three years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international forward Jaraun Burrows (203-85, college: IPFW, currently plays in France). He was not able to help Provence Basket (0-1) in their last game on Friday. Despite Burrows' good performance Provence Basket was badly defeated 76-60 in Blois by the leading ADA Blois.
He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Burrows also added 5 rebounds. It was his first game for Provence Basket this season.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Burrows played for the Bahamas national team in 2016.
#3. The Bahamas player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward Kadeem Coleby (206-89, college: Wichita St., currently plays in Japan). Coleby led Akita Happinets to a victory over the second-ranked Shinshu BW (4-2) 74-64 in the Japanese B2 League on Saturday night.
He was MVP of the game. Coleby scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 25 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group East. Akita Northern Happinets (6-0) are placed first.
So far his team won all six games in the Regular Season.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Coleby has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 59.0%(23-39) and FT: 68.2% in six games.
He attended previously one of camps at Eurobasket Summer League on his way to pro basketball. He played for the Bahamas national team two years ago.
#4. Forward Kentwan Smith (203-91, college: Stetson, currently plays in Slovakia) contributed to a 2-point Levice's victory against the league outsider Zilina (1-3) 88-86 in the Slovakian SBL on Saturday night.
He recorded 7 points.
BK Levicki Patrioti (1-1) is placed third in the SBL.
But there are still lots of games to play and it's a long way to go.
Smith's overall stats this season are: 8.5ppg and 2.8rpg.
He used to play for the Bahamas national team
last year.
#5. International guard Michael Carey Jr. (196-93, college: Wagner, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Charleville-Mezieres (0-1) in their last game. Despite Carey Jr.'s very good performance Charleville-Mezieres was badly defeated 83-66 in Saint Chamond by the higher-ranked (#9) Saint Chamond.
He was the second best scorer with 16 points. Carey Jr. also added 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. It was his first game for Charleville-Mezieres this season.
Carey Jr. used to play for the Bahamas national team
last year.
The list of other players, who all have Bahamas passport but never been selected to any of Bahamas national teams:
#1.Winslo Barry (208-F-90, college: Incarnate Word, currently plays in Finland) led JyWe to a victory over the eighth-ranked PeU-Basket (1-2) 90-75 in the Finnish 1st Division (second division) in Sunday night's game.
Barry was the best player in that game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 21 rebounds. Barry also added 2 blocks; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. Jyvaskylan Weikot (2-1) is placed fifth in Division B.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
Barry has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 20.7ppg, 12.0rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3bpg.
#2.Shaquille Cleare (203-C-93, college: Texas, currently plays in Switzerland) could not help Pully (1-1) in their last game. Despite Cleare's good performance Pully was edged 80-77 on the road by the second-ranked Winterthur.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 38 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Cleare's first season in pro basketball. The Regular Season already ended.
This year Cleare has relatively solid stats: 13.3ppg and 5.7rpg in three games he played so far.
#3.Jonathan Fairell (201-F-93, agency: Duran International, college: Murray St., currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Provence Basket (0-1) 76-60 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday.
He recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and made 2 blocks. It was his first game for ADA Blois this season.
His team is placed first in the ProB.
Fairell has a dual citizenship: Bahamas and American.
Windsor Express (NBL Canada) tabbed naturalized Bahamian forward Robert Nortmann (205-104kg, college: Dalhousie) from Island Storm. But in 23 NBL Canada games he averaged just 2.0ppg and 1.6rpg last season. He helped them to make it to the semifinals [read more]
Windsor Express (NBL Canada) tabbed naturalized Bahamian forward Robert Nortmann (205-104kg, college: Dalhousie) from Island Storm. But in 23 NBL Canada games he averaged just 2.0ppg and 1.6rpg last season. He helped them to make it to the semifinals. Nortmann also played that season for Francavilla Fontana (Serie C Silver) in Italy. He graduated from Dalhousie University in 2012 and it will be his sixth season in pro basketball.
MAFC Budapest (A Division) tabbed 33-year old Bahamas ex-international forward Bennet Davis (206-102kg-84, college: Northeastern, agency: Inception Sports). He played most recently at SAP Vaucluse in French NM1 league. In 17 games he averaged 11.8ppg, 5.5rpg, 1 [read more]
MAFC Budapest (A Division) tabbed 33-year old Bahamas ex-international forward Bennet Davis (206-102kg-84, college: Northeastern, agency: Inception Sports). He played most recently at SAP Vaucluse in French NM1 league. In 17 games he averaged 11.8ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.8apg and 1.2spg last season. He can count that year as a very successful as was selected to Eurobasket.com All-French NM1 Honorable Mention. Davis also played that season for Saint Chamond (ProB) in French league where in 11 games he had 4.1ppg and 2.6rpg. A very impressive season as he was selected to Eurobasket.com All-French NM1 Honorable Mention. In 2008 (a year after he left the college) Davis was drafted by Utah Flash (D-League) in third round (41st overall). He attended Northeastern University until 2007 and it will be his eleventh (!!!) season in pro basketball. Among other achievements Davis' team made it to the NM1 Play-Offs Semifinals in 2015. He received also Eurobasket.com All-Hungarian League Defensive Player of the Year award back in 2013. Davis represented Bahamas at the CBC Championships in Tortola (Virgin Islands) three years ago. His team won Gold and his stats at that event were 5 games: 5.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 31.6%, FT: 80.0%. Davis is a very experienced player. And here thanks to pro basketball he experienced life in ten different countries playing on four different continents. He is familiar with European, Asian, Latin American and of course North American leagues. Davis has played previously professionally in Croatia (KK_Zadar), Finland (KTP Basket), Israel (GreenTops Netanya), Japan (Niigata Albirex), Mexico, Puerto Rico (Cangrejeros), Spain (Palencia_Baloncesto), Hungary (Kormend, Kaposvari and Marso Nyiregyhazi KK), France (UB Chartres) and D-League (Utah F.). He attended previously one of camps at Eurobasket Summer League on he way to pro basketball. Let's have closer look into Davis' outlook:
A tall forward who is known for his ability to handle the ball at 6-9, he never missed a game at collegiate level, starting 102 of the 123 games he played at Northeastern. A good scorer and shotblocker, he finished his career with 170 blocks, the second most in school history. He also attended St. George's School in the Bahamas where he played baseball. As a pitcher, Davis was a member of Bahamas' national team.
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