A successful Tournament concluded with Da Ghut beating Junior Mega Mix back to back to lift the Development League Championship" photo credit:charlie jackson/VINO

"Terrique Wattley holds the Devt. League MVP Award and Da Ghut received the Championship Trophy from Joi-Ann Thomas" photo credit: charlie jackson/VINO

Glenal Layne received his MVP Trophy from Ena Christopher, while his team, the East, look on after the Junior Division Championship Trophy" photo credit: charlie jackson/VINO

Playing for Da Ghut Wattley and his team mates had to secure back to back wins against Junior Mega Mix to lift the Championship Trophy, which they duly did on Sunday evening despite suffering some nervous moments.

The first quarter ended at 11-10, but a Romain Minott inspired charge towards the end of the first half saw the Mix take a 28-21 lead at the break. Da Ghut bounced back zipping the ball around with speed and precision and went ahead 30-28 thanks to a Franklynn Penn Junior 3 pointer. The Mix restored their lead courtesy of back to back 2s and a rebounded free throw, but as the 3^rd quarter clock wound down they were guilty of three silly turnovers which allowed Da Ghut back into the game at 34-37.

They maintained that momentum throughout the last quarter and secured a 52-51 victory right at the buzzer.

Wattley finished with 16 points, Penn 13, Deangelo Sampson 11 and Rashele Roberts 9. For the Mix Minott finished with 21 points with both D’Moi Hodge and Tyler Cameron scoring 10.

The Championship game proved as tight as the opener with the teams tied at 9-9 at the end of the 1^st quarter. The Mix then claimed a 22-14 advantage at half time which was reduced to 32-26 at the end of the 3^rd.

Penn hit back to back 2s to level the scores at 32 with 5 mins left of the final period. Da Ghut then took a 3 point lead with 3:37 left before the Mix missed two free throws.

With 1:51 remaining Da Ghut were ahead 37-35, but only thanks to more missed free throws from Minott who surprisingly only made 1 of 4 attempts under pressure. Da Ghut kept pressing and eventually the Mix cracked allowing Penn to feed Wattley to make it 39-35. Then as the Mix surged forward in the last 60 seconds, looking for points Wattley forced a turnover and Penn made an interception to close out the game.

Wattley finished with 11 points, Sampson 10 and Penn 9. For the Mix Minott scored 22.

The two other teams in the Developmental League were the Lady Tigers with the bulk of the girls playing their first competitive matches and Real Tool from Sea Cows Bay.

Tool were crushed 52-25 by the Mega Mix on Friday with Cameron scoring 11 points, Minott 9 and both Hodge and Dimani Williams 8. For real Tool Nathan Rodney scored 9 and Caleb Leonard 6.

On Saturday Da Ghut beat Real Tool 47-30 with Wattley scoring 17, Penn 9 and Malique Wattley 7. For Tool Dillon Etienne scored 9 and Akeem Nibbs 6.

The Tigers took care of Da Ghut 26 – 18 after the referee correctly called the game off due to the unsportsmanlike behavior of some of Da Ghut players. Their actions, showed no respect for the Girls, who are looking to improve their abilities and also showing no respect for the game of Basketball.

Lavern “Ebony” Fahie scored 18 for the Tigers and Joi-An Thomas added 4.

Junior Mega Mix was up next for the girls and they played the game in exactly the right fashion, showing the girls no favour, but taking them seriously. The final score was 38-8 with Williams top scoring with 11 points for the Mix. Minott, Damien Cooper and Adams all added 6. Fahie scored 4 of the Tigers points.

One game too far then followed for the Tigers who were well beaten by Da Ghut 39-8. This time the referee had no choice but to call the game as the Girls were in danger of sustaining injuries after playing so much and so late. Wattley scored 10 whilst both Penn and Roberts added 6. For the girls who put up a spirited fight in each of their games Amahlia Glasgow, Fahie, Thomas and Renay Baird all scored 2 points each.

In the Junior Division, Layne had overseen two comfortable wins for his team, East, over Da Ghut .

On Friday he scored 18 points in the 49-28 victory in which Mackebo Fahie added 10 points and Akeem Bradshaw 8. For Da Ghut Romain Minott scored 9 points and Deangelo Sampson 7.

In what turned out to be the concluding game on Saturday, the East had a much tougher time against the same opponents before running out 30-26 winners. This time Layne recorded 9 points and Damien Cooper 7. For Da Ghut, Albert Hatchett scored 6.

After the nine games and trophy presentations Byron Hodge the BVIBF President said one of the main reasons for holding the Tournament was for him to see where the Territory was in terms of ability and more importantly what is needed to improve the standards. He was fairly happy with what he saw but admitted there was a lot of work to do. “We need to put in place a system that everyone buys into,” he said. “A lot of fundamentals are missing and that needs to be rectified, the Coaches, the Players are all keen to work hard and improve, so the Federation has to sit down and make it happen”

Hodge also hopes to arrange a 3 on 3 tournament as well as send a senior and junior team to a tournament in St Marten later this year.