BEBL Round 8 (Regular Season): Thunderbolts are upset by Western Ballaz

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in San Ignacio between third ranked Thunderbolts (5-5) and fourth ranked Western Ballaz (4-4) on Saturday night. Thunderbolts were defeated by Western Ballaz on the road 79-66. The best player for the winners was forward Arik Nicholas (196, college: ACU) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds. American guard Dennis Flowers III (188-2001, college: ACU) chipped in 19 points. Matthew Young produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 17 rebounds for the guests. Western Ballaz maintains fourth position with 4-4 record. Newly promoted Thunderbolts keep the third place with five games lost. Western Ballaz are looking forward to face Kings (#5) in the next round. Thunderbolts will have a break next round.
An exciting game was played in San Ignacio. Third ranked Thunderbolts faced one of their biggest challengers Western Ballaz. Guests from Belize City (5-5) defeated host Western Ballaz (4-4) 87-81. Matthew Young orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 9 rebounds. Glency Lopez contributed with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Center Jahiem Ciego replied with 20 points and 6 rebounds for Western Ballaz. Newly promoted Thunderbolts maintains third position with 5-5 record having three points less than leader Tiger Sharks. Western Ballaz at the other side keeps the fourth place with four games lost. Thunderbolts will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Western Ballaz will play against Kings (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Punta Gorda was also quite interesting. Sixth ranked City Kings (3-6) played at the court of 7th ranked Panthers (2-8). City Kings defeated Panthers 92-79 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of Nisani Mendez who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 5 assists. City Kings' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marquis Cunningham responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists. Kings moved-up to fifth place. Panthers lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Kings will meet at home Suns (#6) in the next round. Panthers will play against the league's second-placed Dream Ballers and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 8 bottom-ranked Panthers were defeated by Dream Ballers in Dangriga 73-61.



Western Ballaz - Thunderbolts 79-66

The most important game in the last round took place in San Ignacio between third ranked Thunderbolts (5-5) and fourth ranked Western Ballaz (4-4) on Saturday night. Thunderbolts were defeated by Western Ballaz on the road 79-66. The best player for the winners was forward Arik Nicholas (196, college: ACU) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds. American guard Dennis Flowers III (188-2001, college: ACU) chipped in 19 points. Flowers III is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Western Ballaz players scored in double figures. Matthew Young produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 17 rebounds and American Victor Evans (193, college: Vanguard, agency: F1RST STRING) added 22 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Western Ballaz maintains fourth position with 4-4 record. Newly promoted Thunderbolts keep the third place with five games lost. Western Ballaz are looking forward to face Kings (#5) in the next round. Thunderbolts will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Western Ballaz: A.Nicholas 21+15reb+3ast, D.Flowers III 19+2reb+3ast, D.Oden 15+5reb, D.Campbell 14+3reb+2ast, J.Ciego 6+5reb+2ast, K.Palacio 4+6reb
Thunderbolts: V.Evans 22+5reb+1ast, M.Young 14+17reb, C.Garcia 12+10reb+4ast, E.Rene 8+4reb+1ast, T.Hall 8+4reb+2ast, M.Caseras 0

Panthers - Kings 79-92

The game in Punta Gorda was also quite interesting. Sixth ranked City Kings (3-6) played at the court of 7th ranked Panthers (2-8). City Kings defeated Panthers 92-79 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of Nisani Mendez who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 5 assists and Brandon Flowers (196-1995) who added 22 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Four City Kings players scored in double figures. City Kings' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Marquis Cunningham (208-1995, college: UAPB) responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists and his fellow American import swingman Kyle Steward (201-1995, college: UMKC) scored 28 points and 9 rebounds. Kings moved-up to fifth place. Panthers lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Kings will meet at home Suns (#6) in the next round. Panthers will play against the league's second-placed Dream Ballers and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kings: N.Mendez 27+4reb+5ast, B.Flowers 22+8reb+3ast, S.Pratt 15+5reb, J.Kelly 11+13reb+1ast, K.Jackson 9+7reb+2ast, J.Harris 8+3reb+3ast
Panthers: M.Cunningham 28+18reb+4ast, K.Steward 28+9reb+2ast, C.Leslie 11+3reb+3ast, K.Hamilton 5+3reb+3ast, J.Sutherland 5+9reb+2ast, A.Ariola 2+1reb

Dream Ballers - Panthers 73-61

There was no surprise in Dangriga where 7th ranked Panthers (2-8) were defeated by second ranked Dream Ballers (6-3) 73-61 on Saturday. Dream Ballers forced 26 Panthers turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Daniel Conorque (193-1991, college: Pima CC) who helped to win the game recording 14 points and 9 rebounds and American Deshawn Brackett (178-2001) who added 20 points and 4 assists during the contest. American forward Marquis Cunningham (208-1995, college: UAPB) responded with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds and his fellow American import Kevin Hamilton (170, college: YSU) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four Panthers players scored in double figures. Dream Ballers maintains second position with 6-3 record having just three points less than leader Tiger Sharks. Panthers lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with eight games lost. Dream Ballers will again meet bottom-ranked Panthers (#7) in the next round where they are favorite. Panthers will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Dream Ballers: D.Brackett 20+4ast, K.Smith 14+6reb+1ast, D.Conorque 14+9reb+2ast, E.Mitchell 7+6reb+3ast, E.Wade 6+3reb, Q.Bowen 4+1reb
Panthers: M.Cunningham 14+13reb+1ast, C.Leslie 14+3reb+1ast, K.Steward 12+6reb+4ast, K.Hamilton 10+10reb+3ast, J.Sutherland 5+6reb, K.Cumberbatch 4+2reb

Western Ballaz - Thunderbolts 81-87

An exciting game was played in San Ignacio. Third ranked Thunderbolts faced one of their biggest challengers Western Ballaz. Guests from Belize City (5-5) defeated host Western Ballaz (4-4) 87-81. Thunderbolts dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Western Ballaz's 40. Matthew Young orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 9 rebounds. The former international Glency Lopez (180-1997, college: Midland CC) contributed with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Four Thunderbolts players scored in double figures. Center Jahiem Ciego replied with 20 points and 6 rebounds and guard Kyron Molina added 18 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Western Ballaz. Newly promoted Thunderbolts maintains third position with 5-5 record having three points less than leader Tiger Sharks. Western Ballaz at the other side keeps the fourth place with four games lost. Thunderbolts will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Western Ballaz will play against Kings (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Thunderbolts: M.Young 22+9reb+2ast, G.Lopez 15+5reb+7ast, E.Rene 13+5reb+1ast, V.Evans 11+4reb, T.Hall 11+5reb+4ast, R.Henry 9+4reb+2ast
Western Ballaz: D.Flowers III 20+1reb+1ast, J.Ciego 20+6reb+1ast, K.Molina 18+7reb+1ast, J.Zhao 6+4reb, R.Duran 6+1reb, J.Carbajal 5+3reb+2ast