Kolij crowned Champs in BABA Junior competition

Lifting the crown for the first time, the Kolij Lions have finally earned the right to be called royalty, earning the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) Junior Knockout title after defeating the V.R. Carrington Building and Maintenance Challengers, 74-53.

The convincing victory was the result of hard work and commitment by the young team of alumni and current players from Harrison College. Playing in the Barbados Community College gym on Sunday night, the young lions dominated the game with hustle and defence over an older but more experienced side. Coach of the Lions, Iantham Alleyne, explained that the team had been well trained and he knew they were disciplined enough to follow the script and win the title.

“Hard work and dedication to coming to practice; we started practising early and there was a dedication to the work ethic,” said the coach.

There was also the blessing of young overseas D1 athlete Kyrone Alexander returning for the summer from Boston University. Alexander showed his talent and skill throughout the knockout competition and top scored in the title game with 17 points. He was supported by Christopher Cadogan with 10 and Cameron Blackman who added nine.

Alleyne highlighted that the addition had a positive influence on the team and the young baller was able to offer up guidance to the younger players, using the knowledge gained from playing abroad.

Alexander will not be present for the full duration of the league championship, but Alleyne stated emphatically that the game plan remained the same.

“The same thing is going to happen, whether he is here or he isn’t. The same fast tempo and the same pressure defence. It starts from practice, we play the same way we practise, even though we could have been faster tonight,” Alleyne contended.

The score was tied at 15 apiece after the first quarter but a combination of that energy and hustle brought by Kolij propelled them to more than double the tally of Challengers in the second period. Taking the 34-23 lead into the half, the young men in maroon and gold rolled with the momentum and outmanoeuvred the older players. Challengers missed countless layups in the game, some contested while others were wide open. By the end of the third, the lead stood at 28, 61-33 and the Lions never took their paws off the necks of their opponents.

The frustration began to show in the playing style and reactions of the Challengers, and Orlando Greenidge earned himself a technical in the third quarter. By that time, Kolij and their many fans in the stands were enjoying the game and cruising. Alexander and Cadogan even connected for a showtime alley-oop, seeing Alexander soar for the finish with the slam.

The celebrations began from the sidelines and off the court when Alleyne called a timeout with just under a minute remaining, and it continued after the final whistle when the job was done. Todd Bourne with 14 and  Greenidge with seven played well for the Challengers in an overall scrappy game while Julian Grant also scored six in the loss.

(AS)