SVG retains Windwards Basketball Championships

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Senior Male Basketball team returned home to a champagne welcome and breakfast last Monday morning{{more}} with the revived Windward Islands title in their grasp.

This despite losing their last match against host Grenada the previous night.

After disposing of St. Lucia and Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the champions of the last tournament held back in 1999, needed to not lose by more than six points to retain the title.

Grenada, on the other hand, was beaten by Dominica, 70-69, but rebounded to outscore St. Lucia 67-54.

In the decider on Sunday night at the Tanteen Courts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines won the first quarter 15 -13, but lost the second 28 – 35, and the third 49 – 50.

The nervy last quarter saw Grenada winning 68-66, but that was not enough to land them the top spot, as both teams finished with two wins and a loss.

For the Vincentians, Alexus Foyle was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament as well as for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines team. He also copped the Most Goals award along with Captain Randolph “Sticky” Williams. They both netted 22 points.

Williams told SEARCHLIGHT on Monday soon after they arrived: “It was excellent for us, and everyone executed well, both offensively and defensively.”

The experienced Williams thought his team’s second match was the most difficult after they comfortably beat St. Lucia by over thirty points.

He was also wary of the Dominican big man Garth Joseph, who stands at over seven feet.

“Our guys did a good job on him,” Williams said.

However, the Vincentian captain was a little disappointed that his team did not finish with a one hundred percent win record as they faltered against Grenada in the last match.

Meanwhile, coach of the team, Junior Sutton, on his first outing at the national level, reiterated that he had a great bunch of guys and thought their experience and maturity were the major components that saw them through.

For Sutton, the next assignment is the Bequia Basketball championships which start this Saturday.

He also sees himself furthering his coaching certification in Canada in the very near future.

The Vincentians saw off Dominica, with quarter scores of 18-09, 39-23, 60-43, and in the fourth 70-61 as they marched to their second win.

Foyle set new standards when he netted a tournament high of 37 points, while Williams poured in 29 points.

In their opening match, the Vincentians blasted St. Lucia, 90-57. Williams scored 22 points, with Ajani Edwards, 17 points, and Foyle, 16.

The champions led in all quarters: 27-9, 57-20, 73-35, and finally, 90-57.

The other result saw Dominica beating St. Lucia, 73-68, to take the bronze. St. Lucia finished winless.