 St.Pauls
Topples Hitters to Win SKABA Title: Nash declared finals MVP
In what can easily be described as the most exciting game in SKABA since the Fig Tree Dirt Revellers and the McKnight Trotters fought tooth and nail in the 2005 finals the Caribbean Insurance St.Pauls Tuff Knots and the Rams Hitters gave the packed house at basketball city all their money's worth and more on Wednesday evening in the deciding game of the 3 game finals series of the 2007 SKABA Digicel/National Bank/KFC National Basketball league. The St.Pauls Tuff Knots got out the gates early, excited and enthusiastic as they totally dominated the first half of the game. They grabbed every loose ball and converted almost at will. The Hitters seemingly had no answer for the younger and, some may say, more talented St.Pauls team. Exciting guard Clayton “Claybo†Powell ran circles around Hitters guard and defensive specialist Marlon “Jah Love†Powell .Powell also seemed too much for the aged legs of veteran Trevor “Marty†Huggins . Nasharn and Brother Noren Maynard were simply monstrous on the boards as they out-hustled and out rebounded Hitters forwards Shawn “Shabba†Forbes and David “Longman Dowell. The first half ended with St.Pauls enjoying a very comfortable and dominating 14 point lead, 50-36. However the 2nd half began with a much more energized and focused Hitters team. Like a surgeon with a precision knife, the 17 time champions methodically cut back into the huge lead and with 8:57 secs to go in the 4th quarter the Hitters tied the game 60-60 with a spectacular 3 point shot by SKABA legend Marty Huggins. Marty showed exactly why he is considered by most the best player ever in SKABA as the young legs of Clayton Powell (180-G) and Karis Douglas became weary and thus were unable to stop the 25 year veteran from throwing up and converting an amazing 3- three point shots in less than 2 minutes. By the center of the 4th quarter the Hitters had full control of the game and the momentum had totally shifted in their favor. At this time the score was 74-71. St.Pauls however showed great determination as they valiantly fought back on the strength of the broad shoulders of Nasharn Maynard who along with brother Noren and guard Clayton Powell dug deep and rode the overwhelming support of the St.Pauls fans who came out in their numbers, the St.Pauls Tuff Knots scored the final 7 points unanswered . The Hitters simply had little or nothing left after coming back from 20 points down to tie the game. Even the importation of overseas based player Kevin Davis, did not help the Hitters to deny St.Pauls their first title. At the final whistle hundreds of St.Pauls Tuff Knots fans swarmed the court to celebrate their team's 81-77 victory over the dynasty known as Hitters. Much credit for the St.Pauls victory must be given to Coach St.Clair
“Heads†Buchanan who did a splendid job in keeping his team calm and
focused even when the Hitters took the lead early in the 4th
quarter.Nasharn Maynard was declared the Finals and Playoff MVP as he
was the main catalyst throughout the entire playoff for the
St.Pauls Tuff Knots' first national title. He led all scorers with
20 points and 8 rebounds. Noren Maynard supported well with 17 points
and 7 rebounds and
Clayton Powell had yet another solid game with 16 points and 7
assists. Trevor Marty Huggins led the Hitters with 19 points which
included 3-three pointers. The Hitters young and exciting guards Marlon
“Jah Love†Powell and Ansell “Bonze†Revan played credibly but way below
the standard that was expected of them given the magnitude of the game.
Ansell and Marlon combined for 28 points and just 4 assists, 3 below the
assist total of
St.Pauls Tuff Knots guard
Clayton Powell. Other good performances came from Javid Williams of
St.Pauls Tuff Knots with 8 points and 8 rebounds and Hiters' Shawn
“Shabba†Forbes with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
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