The Weekend Sporting Events with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The mad rush to make the payoffs saw the Belize Yellow Pages Hurricanes in a must win against the surging Belmopan Red Taigaz as they hosted a possible # 2 seed Friday night. Immediately into the ballgame, the Hurricanes turn up the pressure. Winston Pratt comes up with the steal and goes all the way for 2 of his 11 pts. Terrel Eskridge responds for the Taigaz, slicing through the heart of the home team’s defense to strike for 2 pts and would put up 12 and would also lead all. Ty Bradley then finds Brian White and he would play big for the Hurricanes tonight, who would show a 19-18 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. In the meantime, Christian Rodriguez opens the 1nd with this triple and would go 3 for 6 from beyond the arc for 11 pts as Belmopan grabs the lead.
The Hurricanes strike back. Earl Johnson sticks this put back for 2 of his 10 game pts. It’s Brian White, who benefits this precise pass from Lindsberg Graham, as he gives the lead to the Hurricanes. White would put up 18 pts and 9 rebounds; the player closest to a 2 double in this match-up. At the half, the host team leads 37 to 34. Belmopan goes to Travis Lennon in the 3rd as he slices in for this pass from Farron Louriano and comes up with 16 pts to lead all scorers on his team. However, the top scorer of the night would be Ty Bradley who sinks this 3 pointer to record the game high of 22 pts and would lead in the efficiency rating with 24. Down by 2, the Red Taigaz finds Farron Louriano who ties the ballgame at 50 pts apiece. Louriano would have a subpar outing contributing only 11 pts and 6 boards.
Folk’s it’s a tight ballgame going into the 4th as the Hurricanes cling to a 1 pt lead. Ty Bradley really lays the Belmopan defense to waste right here as the Hurricanes begin to surge. Brian White then pulls this rebound off the miss by Earl Johnson, sticks it back, is fouled and would come up with 3 pts the hard way as his team goes up 67 to 59. The Hurricanes would outcome the Taigaz 9 to 6 from there on to post the big Win of 76 – 65 and pick up a much needed win taking its record to 5 wins 6 losses to the Dangriga Warriors at 21 apiece. The Hurricanes have their playoff destiny in their own hands as they will face the Warriors Friday night. Two men enter the winner leaves with the # 4 seed in the playoffs. The only other game play over the weekend saw Cayo Western Ballaz survive a scare from OW Running Rebels in a 63 – 61 squeaker. On Saturday night, Taigaz and Ballaz will battle it out for the # 2 seed in the playoffs. The defending champion San Pedro Tigersharks are already the # 1 seed and Dangriga battles the Hurricanes for the # 4 spot in the playoffs.
In other basketball news, Belmopan Comprehensive High School was hosted by the Instituto Combres at Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico on Friday in a friendly male basketball game that saw Compre win going away in a 74 to 30 final score led by Edgar Martinez with 14 pts. Dane Bradley with 12 and Jovaughn McKenzie also struck for 12. They take aim next at the Universidad de Quintana Roo on the 16th of May inside the UB Gymnasium.
In football news, Belmopan bandits took a 1-nil lead in the PLB Closing Season Championship series with a 1-nil win over Verdes Thursday night. Game II is scheduled for this Sunday. In the meantime, we remind you that the National Male team will host the Dominican Republic on 11th of May with the return match slated for Sunday, May 14th.
Turning to the cycling scene, the weekend warriors presented a 48 mile race yesterday that left Leslie’s Imports travelled through the Boom Circuit to the Northern Highway junction and finished in front of Cisco Construction. At the Hattieville roundabout, the pelathon remains more or less intact. However, on the return, Juan Gonzalez, Gilford Perez and Antonio Escarpeta have established a 3-man breakaway that boasts a 2-minute lead. With the chase bunch nevertheless within striking distance. The 3-man lead holds firm until around mile 5 when Gilford Perez of Digicell 4G extricates himself with a burst to go on a solo flight. That earns him the uncontested big win in 2 hours, 18 minutes 16 seconds. Juan Gonzalez of Santino’s outsprints Antonio escarpeta of FT Williams for 2nd place as the lead 3 cover all 3 spots on the podium. Isaiah Willacey of FT Williams grabs 4th place while Jack Sutherland rounds out the top 5.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
