Duke, Blazing Heat fired up in BBA sweet sixteen

Defending First Division champion of the Bequia Basketball Association annual tournament – Duke, along with last year’s Second Division winner – Blazing Heat, have already indicated that they would not be letting go of their holds on the titles.{{more}}

When the 2014 edition opened last weekend at the Clive Tannis hard court in Bequia, both notched up double wins.

In the tip off matches played on Saturday, Duke saw off Warriaz, 67-47. Jonas King led the scoring for Duke with 21 points and added 15 rebounds to his tally. The top scorer for Warriaz was Warrican Garrick with 13 points.

Then, Duke returned on Sunday night to do likewise to East Blazers, recording a 67-52 dumping of their opponents.

National player Steveon Taylor was the leading scorer with 18 points and had 17 rebounds, while Cornelius Farrell sank 12 points for East Blazers.

Similarly, Blazing Heat ousted Rising Stars II, 42-29 on Saturday, and on Sunday distanced Young Duke, 54-32.

Denroy Hutchins proved to be the hot hand for the reigning Second Division winner, as he poured in 17 points and pulled down 20 rebounds versus Rising Stars II and scored 12 points, but was successful at 24 rebounds on Sunday against Young Duke.

Shea Hazell of Young Duke with 12 points was the lone player to reach double digits against Blazing Heat.

The other fixture on the weekend, resulted in Titans edging out Rockets, 25-24 on Sunday in the Under-16 Division.

Javid Morgan with 17 points for Titans and Omario Louie- 15 points was the lead scorer for Rockets.

Prior to last Saturday’s on court action, the opening ceremony of this the 16th edition took place.

Rohan Providence, Treasurer of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation as well as Samantha Lynch, sports officer from the Division of Physical Education and Sports, joined Bequia Basketball Association’s President – Sabrina Mitchell, to address the ceremony.

Providence commended the BBA for hosting, what he termed “one of the best run tournaments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Lynch also offered her congratulations to the BBA for the hard work of the executive committee and encouraged the players to show their respect for the hard work that goes in to such an event.

Mitchell thanked the sponsors Vita Malt and the St. Vincent Brewery, Courts SVG Ltd, Frangipani Hotel and Vintages Bequia for their commitment to the development of sports in Bequia.

She also extended special thanks to the Bequia community for their loyal support for the past 16 years.

The first piece of adjudication saw Young Duke voted the best dressed team on parade.

The Vita Malt sponsored tournament sees 15 teams stashed into the three divisions.

In the First Division are Rising Stars 1, Wizards 1, East Blazers, Duke and Warriaz, while in the Second Division are Blazing Heat, Young Duke, Rising Stars II and Wizards II.

Dragons, Titans, Rockets, Hornets, Young Wizards and Hawks are the outfits which make up the Under-16 developmental component.

Matches in the tournament are slated for Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The tournament is set to conclude August 31.