TT basketball ‘babes’ win in US

MILLENNIUM Basketball Academy “babes” broke new ground on their recent tour of the United States, becoming the first team from Trinidad and Tobago to win a basketball tournament in the USA. The MBA, playing their first-ever series won the senior boys Easter Rounbball Classic at Durham, North Carolina. After playing unbeaten in their group at the newly erected Rashiki Elementary School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, MBA led by 6ft 7in standout Jason Sharp whipped Wizards 83-66 in the final contested at nearby Lincoln High School.

Sharp had 11 points to lead seven players in double figures, with R Guissepi 13, J Weekes 18, T Coerbell 17, S Guerra 10, V Applewhite 11 and D Skeete 12 contributing to the victory. But the senior girls, after surprising Mt Zion Christian Academy 39-19 with 6foot 2inch centre Chrisan Petrovanie scoring 16 points, D Harris eight, and A  Charles 11, they lost the four-team final 45-21 to Wizards playing just one hour after their semi-final victory. Prior to this tournament, the girls played an exhibition game against Durham Rams at Christian Academy Gym in Raleigh, but after leading for the first 10 minutes were beaten 54-39.

This game marked the introduction to competitive basketball for Petrovanie who impressed with 22 points, 10 rebounds two steals and two blocked shots, which earned her the nickname of Shak by supporters of the Rams. Isabel Dennis was also outstanding for MBA. The MBA team comprising mostly  youngsters under 13 years old won one game and lost two, playing in the under-15 age group series, with outstanding performances coming from Genesis Henderson, Kareem Mercury, Alkeem Wickham and Darren Moore-Sampson. Following the tournaments, MBA won two exhibition series against a Durham Wolverines American Athletic Union (AAU) team, with the highlight being the tinymites who beat Leopards 31-21 at Ed Johnson High School, Durham with topscorers with ten points each being Michael King and Joel Hinds.

But the player who raised eyebrows was 7-year-old debutant point guard Runako Quinn, who was outstanding with his vision, ball-handling skills and confidence. Later the MBA met No 2 ranked Mt Zion Christian Academy, the school of  NBA standout Tracy McGrady in a best of five pick-up series. Mt Zion included in their team Roy Blight, a 6ft 5in forward who was featured in the East All Stars team in the EPA Roundball Classic, and North Carolina State Mr Basketball. Who is headed for Cincinatti University next season and Albert Webber, a 6ft 3in point guard who is off to Alabama Unitersity. The MBA lost the series 3-1 but led Mt Zion 20-13 at one stage. Following this, visits were paid to the University of North Carolina, called the Tar Heels, where the great Michael Jordan honed his skills, and met with broadcaster Woody Durham, “Voice of the Tar Heels” for 33 years.

And the MBA took a trip down “Tobacco Road” to Duke University and met with ex-Blue Devils standout Johnny Dawkins, who is assistant coach and an ex-NBA player for ten years. The youngsters later met this year’s Women NBA No 2 draft pick Alana Beard. On April 14 the MBA players all went to Washington DC and watched the New Orleans Hornets vs Washington Wizards game at the MCI Arena, and later met with Hornets forward Jamaal Magloire and NBA All Star and Eastern Conference “Player of the Month — April.” Magloire who has Trinidad heritage, also introduced team-mates Steve Smith, Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Baron Davis and David Wesley.