‘Bequia Basketball Association leads the way’- says Mitchell

President of the Bequia Basketball Association Sabrina Mitchell believes that her organization is leading the way when it comes to the administration of sports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Mitchell said last Sunday, as she addressed the Closing and Presentation ceremony of the 2011 Tournament: “With its big electronic scoreboard, 24- second clocks and tightly run tournament, the Bequia Association leads the way in many aspects; not only of Basketball in the national sporting calendar, but sports administration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including a high standard of officiating.”

In its efforts to keep the high standard of officiating in the tournament, the championships series saw International FIBA Referee Rene Batson of Barbados joining FIBA colleague, Bequia’s Shem Ollivierre and veteran referee Anthony Primus refereeing on a FIBA three-man rotation basis.

In the interest of reciprocity and assisting Ollivierre to continue to practice and develop his craft, he will travel to Barbados next month to referee in the Barbados national competition.

The nine square mile island of Bequia also boasts a total of 30 trained table officials and eight referees, ensuring that the statistics are maintained to the highest of standards.

Mitchell, who is the Secretary General of the Caribbean Basketball Association, said she was pleased with the developmental Under 16 Division, which this year saw sixty boys and girls registered in five teams ranging from age 6 to 14.

Matches in the Under-16 Division were played in two halves of ten minutes, and the hoops lowered to eight (8) feet to help in the development of the children.

According to Mitchell, “These games were some of the most exciting of the competition, attracting huge crowds of family and well wishers.”

Six year olds Altino “Simple” Bynoe and Blossom Hazell were awarded outstanding rookie awards for their enthusiasm for the game of Basketball.

Mitchell, a Central Board Member of FIBA Americas, used the occasion to thank the Bequia business community, patrons and fans for their continued partnership and financial support of Basketball in Bequia.

She urged all to continue to support young people in sports, and thanked the more than sixty volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a successful competition, ranging from executive members, table officials, referees, gate keepers, bartenders, Disc Jockeys, cleaners and vendors.

The 2011 Bequia Basketball Tournament was the 13th edition.

Over the years of operation, the Bequia Basketball Tournament has been fixed to begin on the second Saturday in July and to conclude consistently on the last weekend of August. (RT)