Army women b-ballers rout Horizon in ‘Big Four’

DEFENCE FORCE women took a giant step toward winning this year’s Big Four title in the Royal Extra North Zone Basketball League, after a 69-47 blow-out of Courts Horizon in Game One of their best of-three series at the St Paul’s Street Multi-Purpose Facility in Port-of-Spain.

Horizon led by a solitary point at the end of the opening quarter 16-15, but the Army-Coast Guard women never trailed in Monday night’s action thereafter, leading 31-27 at the half and 52-41 at the end of three quarters. And in the final stanza, Defence Force executed a stingy defence, restricting Horizon to just six points while scoring 17 on their way to victory. Rhonda John, a selectee on the national netball squad for the World Championships in Jamaica later this month led the Army-Coast Guard charge with 16 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists, while Sojourner “Suzie” Hyles another member of the netball squad added 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

Both Alicia Liverpool and Cristal George had 10 points each for the winners, who can clinch the title with victory in Game Two. National Flour Mills turned back a determined Detour Shak Attack 75-70 to take Game One of the men’s Big Four also on Monday night. The teams were all square at the end of the first session 13-13 but NFM, the seven-time winners, took a slim 31-28 half time lead and stretched it to 54-49 at the end of the third stanza. Kerry Westfield scored 17 points and hauled down four rebounds for the winners —  Jason Dean 12 points and five boards, while Vibert Dean had 10 points. Terrrence Mayers led all scorers with 20 points and six rebounds for Shak Attack, while Dexter Lewis contributed 15 points.