Hurley, Bulls silence Cavs

One of the most highly anticipated matchups for the Co-operators General Insurance Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Premier League season lived up to all the hype, at least for the first half.

Defending champions Burger King Clapham Bulls (5-0) easily defeated the Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers 95-81 in the end, after the Cavs fell off the rails down the stretch.

They were led by Derion Hurley who finished with a game-high 28 points, 11 rebounds and five steals, while Simeon Maynard had 19 points and six assists.

Rasheed Maynard contributed in every aspect, scoring 13 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, and registering seven assists and seven steals while Antoine Winter and Andrew Ifill added 11 points apiece.

Cavs’ Deveron Knight found his rhythm in the fourth quarter to end the game with 26 points and nine rebounds while Zachary Cave and Gavin Phillips had good games, scoring 20 points each. Adriel ‘AB’ Brathwaite supported with nine points and 14 rebounds.

The Cavs led 24-14 at the end of the first quarter and by as much as 12 points in the second, but the Bulls came stomping back in, taking the lead by halftime at 41-40.

In the second half, it was all Hurley, sinking shot after shot from behind the arc.

The run started with defence from the Clapham backcourt when the two Maynards, Rasheed and Simeon, along with Ifill upped the ante.

Rahiim Gibbons also locked up any player facing him and the resulting steals by the Bulls caused a stampede down the other end. Hurley was ready and waiting and hit four treys including three consecutive in the quarter, scoring 16 points in the third, shooting over 50 per cent from long range.

Station Hill found themselves trailing by 17 points, 78-61, heading into the fourth quarter and did not seem to have an answer to the flow of points down the other end. What was missing was a dominant performance in the paint and that was becauseBulls not only filled the passing lanes but crowded any Cavalier who caught the ball in the middle.

Knight and Brathwaite found themselves in a very physical matchup and found scoring difficult. However, Brathwaite played well on the defensive end, earning four blocks, but his enthusiasm for blocks earned him a gift to take home.

On one of the transition breaks, he was the first back in defence but a step behind as Antoine Winter posterised him with a two-handed slam, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Brathwaite would exact revenge on Winter back later in the game, pinning him on the boards.

The buzz of the game died down in the fourth as the two teams traded baskets until the clock wound down.

Meanwhile, Rachad Hall lifted Pinelands to their second win of the season with 31 points, nine rebounds, five assists and eight steals, as they defeated Warrens All-Stars 73-67 in a keenly contested game.

Teammate Kadeem ‘Eyes’ Brathwaite added 15 points to the total.

In the second game, Island Care Ambulance Service & BodyxB Lakers narrowly held off the young NSC Combined Schools Tridents 83-78, veteran and national player Keefe Birkett pouring in 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds points to lead the winners.

The only blowout of the BABA Super Sunday was when 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics slammed the C.A.M Smart Assurance Heat, 86-62.

The Celtics turned in an all-around effort, Kiserian Adams shining with a game-high 23 points, Jared Alleyne scoring a season-high 20 points, and Deroni Hurley chipping in with 19 points.

Games are slated to continue on Wednesday when Pinelands face the C.A.M Smart Assurance Heat at 6.15 pm and Station Hill challenge Island Care Ambulance Service & BodyxB Lakers at 8 pm.

(AS)