NEBL Round 1: Tigersharks lose to Hurricanes

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The biggest surprise of round 1 in NEBL took place in Belize City where host Hurricanes (1-0) beat Tigersharks (1-1) 85-77 on Friday evening. The best player for the winners was American forward Jamell Harris (206-91, college: EMU) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks. U.S. Virgin Islands-American forward Jamaal Samuel (206-93, college: ULM) chipped in 19 points and 9 rebounds. point guard Francis Arana (-97) produced 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tigersharks will play next round against Red Bandits trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Hurricanes will try to continue on its current victory against Dream Ballers in Dangriga.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Running Rebels (0-1) on the court of Verdes. Visitors were defeated by Verdes 82-74. American point guard Kris Frazier (201, college: Peru St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points and 8 rebounds. Richard Troyer contributed with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Forward Roger Reneau replied with 19 points and 7 rebounds for Running Rebels. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Verdes will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Running Rebels' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Belize City Defenders.
An interesting game was played in Belmopan where Panthers (#7) beat host Red Bandits (#5) 95-88 on Saturday evening. Jevonte Hughes had a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Richard Smith III responded with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Panthers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Red Bandits will play against Tigersharks (#4) in San Pedro and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Belize City supposed to be also worth to mention about. Dream Ballers (0-1) played at the court of Defenders (1-1). Defenders smashed Dream Ballers 84-55. Nigel Jones notched a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead the effort. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defenders' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Belize City to the arena Running Rebels.

Verdes - Orange Walk RR 82-74

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Running Rebels (0-1) on the court of Verdes. Visitors were defeated by Verdes 82-74. Verdes forced 20 Running Rebels turnovers. Running Rebels were plagued by 30 personal fouls down the stretch. American point guard Kris Frazier (201, college: Peru St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points and 8 rebounds. The former international forward Richard Troyer (196-84, college: Utah Valley) contributed with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Forward Roger Reneau replied with 19 points and 7 rebounds and American point guard Tyrie Orosco (196, college: Cent.Penn) added 15 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Running Rebels. Four Verdes and five Running Rebels players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Verdes will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Running Rebels' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Belize City Defenders.
Top scorers:
Verdes: K.Frazier 23+8reb+3ast, R.Troyer 17+11reb+1ast, T.Thomas 13+8reb+1ast, T.Hall 12+4reb+4ast, S.Williams 6+1ast, E.Usher 5+4ast
Orange Walk RR: R.Reneau 19+7reb+1ast, T.Orosco 15+5reb+2ast, M.Young 11+10reb, C.Dajuan 10+11reb, B.Sidney 10+1reb+2ast, R.Rasheed 5+1reb+1ast

Smart Belize H. - San Pedro T. 85-77

The biggest surprise of round 1 in NEBL took place in Belize City where host Hurricanes (1-0) beat Tigersharks (1-1) 85-77 on Friday evening. The best player for the winners was American forward Jamell Harris (206-91, college: EMU) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks. U.S. Virgin Islands-American forward Jamaal Samuel (206-93, college: ULM) chipped in 19 points and 9 rebounds. Four Hurricanes players scored in double figures. Point guard Francis Arana (-97) produced 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and international forward Jihad Wright (193-93, college: UNC Pembroke) added 15 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tigersharks will play next round against Red Bandits trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Hurricanes will try to continue on its current victory against Dream Ballers in Dangriga.
Top scorers:
Smart Belize H.: J.Samuel 19+9reb+1ast, J.Harris 17+12reb+7ast, A.Carcamo 17+4reb+4ast, A.Edwards 12+4reb+2ast, A.Trapp 9+4reb, E.Rene 9+3reb+1ast
San Pedro T.: F.Arana 27+5reb+4ast, J.Wright 15+3reb+2ast, E.Bennett Jr. 11+6reb, A.Martevuius 8+6reb+2ast, T.Robinson 7+6reb, D.Valley 6+2reb

Belmopan B. - Panthers 88-95

An interesting game was played in Belmopan where Panthers (#7) beat host Red Bandits (#5) 95-88 on Saturday evening. Panthers looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American center Jevonte Hughes (196-93, college: Charleston) had a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international center Elsworth Itza (-83) chipped in 13 points and 16 rebounds during the contest. American forward Richard Smith III (206-92, college: California, PA) responded with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds and forward Brandon Flowers (196-95) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Panthers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Red Bandits will play against Tigersharks (#4) in San Pedro and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Panthers: J.Hughes 24+10reb+2ast, E.Ariolla 17+5reb+1ast, T.Julien 17+10reb, E.Itza 13+16reb+2ast, D.Campbell 12+1reb+15ast, K.Laurie 4+2reb
Belmopan B.: J.McKenzie 23+1reb+1ast, K.Jabbie 18+2reb+4ast, B.Flowers 14+10reb+1ast, R.Smith III 13+12reb+1ast, B.Rogers 10+3reb, D.Nolberto 5+4reb+4ast

Belize City D. - Dream Ballers 84-55

The game in Belize City supposed to be also worth to mention about. Dream Ballers (0-1) played at the court of Defenders (1-1). Defenders smashed Dream Ballers 84-55. Defenders dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Dream Ballers' 30. Defenders forced 19 Dream Ballers turnovers. American center Nigel Jones (201-90, college: Talladega) notched a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead the effort and the other American import forward Luther Page (201-93, college: Alabama St.) supported him with 23 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). Jones is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Even a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds by American forward Branden Sheppard (203-96, college: William Carey, agency: One Motive Sports) did not help to save the game for Dream Ballers. Center Delvon Henderson added 11 points and 9 rebounds for the guests. Four Dream Ballers players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defenders' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Belize City to the arena Running Rebels.
Top scorers:
Belize City D.: N.Jones 27+14reb, L.Page 23+6reb+1ast, D.Daly 12+9reb+1ast, M.Tzul 9+2reb+3ast, F.Louriano 5+5reb, K.John 4+3reb
Dream Ballers: B.Sheppard 16+11reb+1ast, H.Delvon 11+9reb+1ast, D.Conorque 10+5reb+4ast, Q.Bowen 10+6reb+1ast, E.Mitchell 3+3reb+8ast, D.Davion 2

San Pedro T. - Belize City D. 99-90

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Defenders (0-1) in San Pedro on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Tigersharks (1-0) 99-90. They made 26-of-33 free shots (78.8 percent) during the game. Tigersharks had a 30-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. Center Martevuius Adams stepped up and scored 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and American forward T.J. Robinson (203-89, college: LBSU) chipped in 21 points and 7 rebounds. At the losing side American center Nigel Jones (201-90, college: Talladega) responded with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds and international guard Devin Daly (195-94, college: LSSU) scored 23 points and 4 steals. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tigersharks are looking forward to face Hurricanes (#6) in Belize City in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Defenders will play at home against Dream Ballers and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
San Pedro T.: A.Martevuius 24+6reb+2ast, T.Robinson 21+7reb+3ast, F.Arana 15+3reb+6ast, J.Wright 13+2reb+4ast, E.Bennett Jr. 7+1reb, K.Burgess 7+4reb+3ast
Belize City D.: N.Jones 27+10reb+1ast, D.Daly 23+1reb+3ast, F.Louriano 16+9reb, M.Tzul 11+2reb+10ast, L.Page 8+9reb+3ast, T.Bradley 5+1ast

Tags : JAMELL HARRIS, SMART BELIZE HURRICANES, BELIZEAN BASKETBALL