Overall, District 2 won the U-16 Division with a 47-41 win against District 5, with the League MVP award going to Romain Minott of the Champions. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The recipient of the Presidential Sportsmanship Award in the Under 10 Division was Elroy Bollers of the Spurs. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Donaldson Layne of District 8 took home the Presidential Award in the U-13 Division and is pictured here during the double overtime victory against the Girls of Elmore Stoutt High School. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Overall, District 2 won the U-16 Division with a 47-41 win against District 5, with the League MVP award going to Romain Minott of the Champions.

According to BD Basketball President Brian “Bash” Brewley, “The game was very well played with both sides showing some great talent and a competitive edge. The 2^nd District were near the bottom last year and now look they are champions. That’s a great reflection on the work of Gertrude Thomas and her crew.”

District 2 finished the season unbeaten partially due to Minott, who has refound his hunger and desire to play the game.

Among the individual trophies are the Presidential Sportsmanship Awards, which the President noted “are based on the way the players competed in all aspects of the game as well as talent and behavior.”

Stephen Caul, playing for District 9, took home the award in the U-16 Division, whilst in the Under 13’s, Donaldson Layne of District 8 was the recipient.

District 6 had of course won the U13 Championship with a 31-19 victory against District 5 and Sajwan France was named as overall League MVP. Team awards also went to Michael Richardson Junior of District 3, Rackelle Jack (District 4), Malique Wattley (5), Kyle Penn (8) and D’Moi Bradley (9).

In the Under 10’s, Elroy Bollers, who was also named League MVP, was the winner of the Presidential Sportsmanship Award and “Bash” reserved special comment for him. “He played with a whole different behavior pattern,” he said “in previous years he seemed to be less of a team player, but now has become a leader.”

The Lakers had won the Championship, 17-15 win against Bollers and the Spurs, but each team in the league had an MVP appointed. For the Lakers it was Tyreice Carrasco, for the Hawks Revaughn Garroway and for the Celtics Sahjani France.

Individuals in the U-16 Division were also recognized for various categories including Most Points, which went to Caul. Neville Smith Junior took home the Most Rebounds Trophy as well as Most Blocks. Minott was awarded the Most Steals and Vedal Penn Most Assists.

In an assessment of the District King League, Brewley felt overall there had been a vast improvement in the players especially in their behavior. “The players are much improved and have a much better understanding of the game now,” he said. “We also enforced the need for the youths to maintain their grade point average, which has worked out well and next year we will raise that requirement to make it an even tougher task and make them realize the importance of education as well as playing sports,” he concluded.

One area of continual disappointment for “Bash” is the lack of support for the kids from their parents. “The parents didn’t really come out and support,” according to Brewley and he hopes parents will get more and more involved as opposed to treating the Tournaments like a day care centre. “We need to get the parents out, when they are there it’s a whole different atmosphere and the youths not only behave better, but play better too. So we need parents to come out for the half hour or hour to support their children and then it becomes a whole different ball game.”

The Championship had proven another successful tournament for the BD Basketball Association and even better than last year competition wise. All the game across the age groups were played in great spirit, were very competitive and there is reason to have great faith in the future of the game under the guidance of Bash and his team including Sharlene Hill, Carol Ann, Rhennie, Kennedy and the rest.

Up next is a double elimination tournament once school closes and then the plan is to get the support of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports to re-launch the Inter High School League as well as hold another Primary School version.

So even after a hectic few months, Bash and his crew are already hard at work planning and have hardly even caught their breath before wanting to bring more and more competition for the future of youth basketball.