Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The Belize City Council held its Second Annual Triathlon on Sunday in the Old Capital. At the break of dawn, swimmers, cyclists and runners gathered inside the Lord Rhaburn Plaza for the event.
In total, fifty-one athletes showcased their talents across five different categories. The competition featured two junior individual athletes, eight junior relay teams, seven men’s individual athletes, five men’s relay teams, and one senior mixed team. It was an exciting event with a diverse group of participants giving it their all. The event began with the swimmers taking to the water. The juniors are doing one lap towards the orange buoy near the pier and back. The seniors, including the only individual female, were required to do two laps around the entire course. Individual junior competitor Daylan Cruz is first out of the water. And Cruz was also a part of a junior relay group. He passed off one of his two-time chips to his team’s cyclist Kaille Burgess.
The other junior swimmers came in right behind him and one by one the junior riders began taking off from the starting line. They were required to do one lap from the start to the Pallotti High School roundabout and back. Here we see the second junior individual competitor Kyson Vernon, gearing up for the cycling leg, immediately after his swim. He also competed in the junior relay. In the meantime, the senior individual and relay competitors are working to complete their first lap around the swimming circuit, some seemingly taking a shortcut. There goes Kenroy ‘Smokey” Gladden, a former Lion Man, about to attempt his second lap. He is one of the seven men’s individual competitors.
Also competing in that category, was Kent “Bob” Gabourel, clearly winded after his first lap attempt. Behind him, the lead swimmers among the seniors. Kiluvert Cal led out of the water. He sprinted to his teammate cyclist Giovanni Lovel, passed over the time chip and Lovell was the first senior cyclist to get underway. 00:45 Swimmers Mario Cucul and Kian Trejo came behind and sent of cyclists Byron Pope and Steven Jergenson. Cucul also competed as a solo athlete. He geared up, jumped on his bike and rode off. Right behind them, out of the water is forty-four-year-old Guatemalan Triathlon Athlete Fransico Lima. He competed as a solo athlete. The senior riders were required to do two laps around the same route as the juniors.
Devyn Major is the first junior relay cyclist to finish his first lap. He passed his team’s time chip to Tamia Bennett who began the last leg of the triathlon, the run. Ahmaad Cherrington, the second youth relay cyclist, finished his ride and passed the team chip to Davae McCauley. Gladden, now out of the water and hoping to gain some ground on the cycling leg. Junior rider, Kelsi Castillo completed her one lap and left the last leg in the hands of Jalen O’Brien who made quick work of the transfer and sprinted off to catch up with the runners ahead of him. Bob Gabourel completed his swim at this time, jumped on his bike barefoot and began his two laps. Among the senior riders, Lovell was the first to complete his team’s two laps. But Byron Pope was steadily closing the gap. Leon Leslie was approximately two minutes behind the two lead riders, and there goes Jyven Gonzalez as the fourth rider around he first lap. Now here we have it folks, the first junior relay team to finish the triathlon. Tamia Bennett brought home the gold in the relay category for Team Chill Guys.
Tamia Bennett
Tamia Bennett, Gold Medalist, Team Chill Guys
“The running was a mental thing, because running a long distance you have to have a strong mind. I wanted to stop for a lot of time, but I just pull through.”
Kerwin Guild crossed the finish line in second place. Guild and his relay team from Wesley College secured silver. Jalen O’Brien and the Team Tri-hards secured the bronze medal in the relay category. senior riders began rolling in with Lovell leading the group. Lovell transferred to Ariel Avila, the first senior relay runner to begin the five-k run. Byron Pope only a few second behind handed his team’s chip over to Albert Davis who sprinted off behind Avila. Two minutes later, Jyven Gonzalez and Leon Leslie completed their two laps and handed over their chips to Derrick Chavarria and Levi “Yellow Flash” Contreras respectively. They had a great deal of grounds to make to catch up with the runners ahead of them. Franciso Lima, one of the solo competitors took of his riding gears and suited up for the last leg. Behind Lima, two additional solo competitors, Cucul and Gladden in third and fourth place in the cycling leg. And now, here we have it folks, the first senior relay athlete to finish the five-k run. Its none other than the “Yellow Flash” himself, Jesus Contreras representing team Juan-Leon, Jesus. He was followed closely by Davis in second place and Avila in third.
Jesus Contreras
Jesus Contreras, Gold Medalist, Team Juan-Leon-Jesus
“When I started, knowing that my rider had made up grounds already that had boost me up mentally. I said to myself, if he can take back a minute it is ours. I am in love with this team. The funny thing is, this was one of the team that had a last registration. But, with the swimmer, rider and runner included, we knew we were destined for top two at least.”
And now, the first solo athlete to cross the finish-line was Guatemalan Fransisco Lima. He is your 2024 individual champion. Team G-Flow was the only team in the mixed relay. That team included Leon Guild, Tyrin Tasher and Mirtha Welch. Daylan Cruz won gold in the junior individual category.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, Organizer, Belize City Triathlon
“We have excellent cyclists and runners in the country; however, our swim is weak. From the triathlon association we are trying to work on this. We have partnered with the YWCA to use their facilities, and we get our high schools athletes there in the evening times to try and swim and become better. We are trying to do more open water swims in this area. We have tried to have just swim events where you just come out here, you set up the buoy and have small incentives to get people motivated that you are training in the pool but for something bigger.”
Well Folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
The Belize Volleyball Association (BVA) held a full-day meeting on Saturday in Belize City with volleyball associations, clubs, teams, and officials. The meeting covered plans for the upcoming year, including national championships, talent development, training seminars, and international tournaments.
The BVA said that the key stakeholders also discussed improving administration and local competitions and strengthening collaboration with partners.
The meeting was facilitated by BVA President Allan Sharp and the Executive Board of Administration.
In a separate post, the BVA expressed appreciation for the active participation of everyone involved and for Caribbean Motors’ support.
Good evening, sports fans! Welcome to another exciting edition of Sports Monday. I’m your host, Paul Lopez. Tonight, we’re diving straight into the action at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, the heart of the Belize District Football Association’s First Division Opening Season for 2024-2025. We’ve got a thrilling season ahead with thirty-two games lined up, taking us all the way to mid-January 2025. We’ll be bringing you coverage of most, if not all, of the eight teams battling it out on the field.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Tonight, we’ve got highlights from the second match of Saturday afternoon, featuring Caesar Ridge FC in their striking black and white jerseys, going head-to-head with Tut Bay FC, who sported green and black. Throw in for Tut Bay in the eighth minute. The ball intercepted by number six for Caesar Ridge, he passes it off down the field. It gets a bit physical there for him. Number seventeen in hot pursuit inside the penalty box. He was able to get the ball in front of the goal. Right place, right time for Antwane Baptist who gave Caesar Ridge a one-to-nothing lead. Here in the thirty-fourth minute, there was a goal kick for Caesar Ridge. Excellent header from Tut Bay to change direction. Tut Bay’s strikers in position, hunting the ball. A high kick sent the ball flying over the defensive line. Calvin Thurton in hot pursuit. He is intercepted but gets a second chance and makes good on it. The game is tied at one a piece.
The first half ended with each team scoring one goal. But, early in the second half, Tut Bay FC gains possession. A kick to the goal goes off target, but Zebolon Leslie came sprinting in from the left wing and launched a bullet towards goal. That’s two goals for Tut Bay FC. Only four minutes later, Tut Bay once again in possession. Caesar Ridge’s defenders were outnumbered, as Leslie got the pass and was able to make space at the top of the penalty box. He launched another rocket towards the goal and that counts. Tut Bay has the lead with three goals to their opponents one goal. The referee called a handball inside the penalty box against Tut Bay sixty-five minutes into the game. Caesar Ridge’s Ken Galvez took the penalty kick and scored. Tut Bay scored the game’s final goal right before the final whistle was blown, putting this game to rest, and as goal scorer Esmond Sanker signaled, putting Caesar Ridge FC to bed for the evening.
And so, as things heat up with that first division tournament, high schoolers are facing off in the Belize District Basketball Tournament to decide which team will represent this region in National High School Basketball Championship. Saint John’s College played against Sadie Vernon High School in this one. SJC’s Thompson with the steal and he makes it to the other end for the layup. Augustine for Sadie Vernon wide open from the three-point line and he banks the shot. SJC’s Daniel Musa gets the pass, drives and pulls up. That’s good.
The first quarter finished eight to seven points in favor of SJC. And, it was mostly downhill from there for Sadie Vernon. They scored one point in the second quarter and only two points in the third, while SJC was able to score eighteen points in those two quarters combined. Sadie Vernon came back in the fourth quarter with a last-minute dash to the finish line, outscoring SJC by two points, with thirteen points. But, ultimately it was not enough to bring down SJC, led by captain Daniel Musa. Both Thompson and Musa led the game in points scored.
And now for some more football action, we bring you our weekly coverage of the Anthony Mahler Under-Thirteen Mundialito Tournament. We covered two games. The first was between Reality Youths and Tut Bay FC. After three periods of solid defending and well-executed offensive plays on both ends, neither team was able to score against the other. And so, this one ended nil, nil. In the second match, Berger United took on Sampson Brown. Berger United made their debut earlier this year with a bang and they are back to see if they got what it takes to win it all. In this one, Breylin Middleton wasted no time, scoring the first goal for Berger in the third minute. Middleton again, four minutes later, goes in to recover the ball and touches it gently into the goal. Good football knowledge on display for such a young player.
Middleton was not quite done just yet. At the eleventh minute, he speeds past a defender while maintaining possession, fires and it goes into the goal. That’s a hat trick for Middleton. Berger United defeated Sampson/Brown, four goals to zero.
And finally, for tonight, here are some highlights from the Women’s Road Race 2024 courtesy Ordonez Bike Shop. This one went from Belize City to Hattieville and back. These cyclists competed in three different categories, Junior, Elite and Over-Thirty-Eight. Nearing mile four, two riders are leading the race, sixteen-year-old Chelsea Gillett and Francine Gigli. They pried open the gap, creating a chase group behind them. Some twenty-six minutes later, the two lead riders saw their lead cut down significantly. Kaya Cattouse went in and picked up the pace to bridge the gap, pulling the chase group behind her. At the Hattieville roundabout, sixteen riders were together in the lead group, headed into Belize City. Kaya Cattouse with the attack at mile thirteen, pumping energy into the lead group of riders. She did not get too far before being reigned in.
With the finish line in sight, Gigli is driving the pace, but Kaya Cattouse was right on her. And, with a final burst of energy Cattouse was first to cross the finish line. She secured first place in the elite category. Chelsea Gillett came in first in the junior category. Fiona Humes secured first place in the over-thirty-eight category. Well folks, that is all we have for you in this week’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The Inter-office Basketball Leagues is winding down with its 2024 finals series. Tuff E Nuff is taking on Police in a best-of-five series for all the marbles. The first game of the series was played on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. Tuff E Nuff played in their signature black jerseys while team Police wore black and white.
Griffith, big on the inside with the first two points of the match for Tuff E Nuff. Moments later, Belisle at the other end with a huge three-point shot and he draws the foul. Belisle would go on to miss the free throw. Tuff E Nuff went into the second quarter with a double-digit lead, securing twenty-points in the first quarter to their opponents’ ten points.Rivers using his size advantage to get inside and make the layup for Police. Late in the second quarter, Brown, for Police, exploits a weakness in Tuff E Nuff’s defensive lineup to get the layup and the foul. He went to the line and made the free throw. Team Police scored twenty points in the second quarter, to their opponents’ fifteen points. So, the first half ended with a score of thirty-seven to thirty, in favor of Tuff E Nuff.
After the halftime break, Tuff E Nuff came out of the locker room with fire in their eyes and ice in their veins. Valley with the long range three, extending his team’s lead.Rowland late in the third quarter worked his way through Ramos and Augustine managed to get the ball into the bucket over an airborne Williams. Rowland again, this time from the three-point line with another big shot for Tuff E Nuff. He finished his third quarter run with a fast break from the other end of the court that translated into a layup on the buzzer. Tuff E Nuff won game one with a score of seventy-two points to team Police’s fifty-five points. Game two will be played on Friday.
From basketball we move into some football action. One of the most anticipated football tournaments in the city, the Anthony Mahler Under Thirteen Mundialito Tournament, is back with its 2024 closing season. We were out at Berger Field on Saturday to catch two of the four matches played. The first was between Ebony Lake and Reality Youths. The match ended one goal to zero, in favor of Ebony Lake. It was an auto goal caused by miscommunication between the goalkeeper and his teammate. That one went in off a header from a Reality Youths player. But a goal is a goal, and a win is a win.
And the second matchup we covered was between the opening season’s sub champions, the Ladyville Rising Stars and Phoenix F.C. This one quickly swung in the Rising Star’s favor with this kick in front of the goal from Nigel Hulse at the fourth minute.Here in the second period Kent Noralez gets the assist inside the penalty box, and he makes it count. Another beautiful play here from Rising Stars as the ball is placed for Noralez off the head of his teammate. That’s goal two for Noralez. He finished the match with a hat-trick. Ladyville Rising Stars won the game, six goals to zero.
And finally in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday, a delegation from Belize traveled to Playa Del Carmen last week to compete in the eighth Copa de Revolucíon Games in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Let’s look at some of the results from that tournament. In Shot Put, Gina Tejeda secured a gold medal.
In the open male one-hundred-meter dash, Fred Usher Junior secured the gold medal with a new competition record of ten point thirty-seven seconds. Usher also won the silver medal in the two-hundred-meter sprint. Donovan Grinage Junior secured two silver medals, one for Long Jump and the second for Shot Put.
In the under eighteen female races, Nyasha Harris displayed dominance in the one hundred and two-hundred-meter dash. Harris won gold in both races. Jaeden Williams added to the gold medal victories with a win in the under-fifteen long jump and one-hundred-and-fifty-meter race. In total the delegation brought home sixteen medals, including six gold medals, seven silver and three bronze medals.
Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Over the weekend, the Saint Catherine Academy Seahawks volleyball team celebrated a historic victory at the annual Belize City championship game. This win marks their thirtieth straight victory, a remarkable milestone for the school. Today, the team held a press conference to reflect on their thirty years of success and to share what’s next for them. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For the thirtieth year in a row, Saint Catherine Academy’s volleyball team has once again brought home the trophy from the Belize Central Volleyball Championships. This incredible streak highlights their dominance and dedication over the past three decades. SCA principal, Salome Tillett emphasized the significance of this accomplishment.
Salome Tillett
Salome Tillett, Principal, SCA
“The record streak that we celebrate today started before some of you were born, certainly before the team was born. It started under the principal sister Caritas Lawrence, sport director Brian Smutney, a Peace Corps and Alan Sharp as a volleyball coach. We track it back to 1995 but arguably maybe a little bit more because we saw a 1994 for nationals. So to get to nationals, we must have passed Central. So we may go a little bit further back. Imagine, SCA streak started three years before Libero became a position, Sacil. Before the world knew what was Libero, we already had a streak. And it started one year before beach volleyball was even included in the Olympics. That’s to tell you how long ago we are talking about.”
The team adds this milestone to the long list of achievements. In October, the girls brought home a bronze medal from the CODICADER games in El Salvador. Team captain Akili Jones, who also represents Belize on the national team alongside SCA alum Gareth Bruce, says this victory is just the beginning. The team’s success story is far from over.
Akili Jones
Akili Jones, Captain
“We’d like to achieve this for many more years, more than thirty. It is a great thing to be a part of this legacy. It gives us motivation to push further, to want to be more, to continue pushing and creating more space for new children to come along. Other people, new generations, more and more to come and play volleyball and continue our legacy.”
This achievement showcases the incredible potential for young women across Belize to excel in sports. The team is made up of girls from all corners of the country, many of whom received scholarships from their head coach and volleyball legend, Lupita Quan. Sherlene Johnson, the current team coach, knows firsthand the impact of these opportunities. Born and raised in Dangriga, she moved to Belize City to join the team. Now, she’s dedicated to mentoring and shaping the next generation of volleyball stars.
Sherlene Johnson
Sherlene Johnson, Coach
“I used to play in a backyard with Mrs. Sabal. Nonetheless, I came up here to follow my, to follow the volleyball career as well. And I end up here at SCA and miss Lupita , as well as some of the girls that have gotten scholarship from her. I got that as well. And she took me under her wings, and I continued from there.”
Johnson joined the lineup as a line player and sees much of herself in Akili, the current captain of the team, who plays the same position.
Sherlene Johnson
“What inspired me, what had me here, was the fact that I love the sport. I love what I do. And to be able to give back is one of the greatest reward to see all the girls or ladies become grateful about players and amazing women in society”
The twenty-one players on the SCA Seahawks juggle their schoolwork, home lives, and team commitments. Thanks to the support of their families and the camaraderie with their teammates, they strive for excellence and keep bringing home the gold.
Salome Tillett
“These young women that you see today, they embody true, the true spirit of sport. Through the years, we’ve stepped it up another notch, and we have our eyes on international tournaments, including our first participation at CODICADER, where we won a bronze in 2012, and we did it again in 2024.You see the results, but we see the other side of it. We see the hard work, the countless hours of practice, The pain, the aches, the relentless scheduling, the juggling of the work, the disciplined commitments of our athletes, and that is truly what we are here to celebrate today.”
On Friday, the team will travel to Orange Walk to compete in the national tournament, where they hope they will bring home another win for the Seahawks. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. The William Dawson Sprite Basketball Tournament reached a thrilling conclusion on Sunday afternoon at Swift Hall. The battle for third place was a heart-stopping showdown between the Hattieville Underdogs and Don 1. The game kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. Here are some highlights from the final moments, featuring the Underdogs in their striking red and blue jerseys and Don 1 in their vibrant yellow and blue uniforms. Thirty seconds left in the fourth, the Underdogs up by four and Don 1 in possession.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Lincoln Hemsley found Aldane Swazo who instantly passed the ball to overto the corner three position. That shot was no good, but Swazo was there to recover. Ball to Godfrey Arnold at the three-point line. You can see clearly where Underdogs’ Herman Ramos pushed Arnold mid-shot. Arnold was not happy with that play. The officials rewarded Don 1 with four free throws. That included a technical foul. And, they also got possession of the ball, after Arnold made two of the four. Markuest Arnold with the drive and the layup to make it a one-point ball game with seven point nine seconds on the clock. Underdog’s Zahir Harris is fouled. He makes one of two free throws rewarded.
Arnold with the rebound. A long pass to Demitre Dougal. Glenford Gillett gets the ball, and Ramos again with a foul, this time on Gillett. With point one second on the clock, Gillett has an opportunity to take this one into overtime. Under the weight of mounting press he misses the first free throw. They tried to go for a quick play on the second attempt, but that failed. The Hattieville Underdogs were named the 2024 Williams Dawson Sprite Basketball Tournament Bronze Medalists. The championship match between the back-to-back defending champions, the Hard Rock Boys, and the Orange Court Generals had everyone buzzing with excitement. The Orange Court Generals, donning their vibrant orange jerseys, made an impressive run to the finals in their debut season. Meanwhile, the Hard Rock Boys, clad in white and yellow, were determined to secure a historic three-peat. The stage was set for an unforgettable showdown.
Hard Rock Boys were navigating troubled waters by the end of the first quarter. With the Generals displaying a higher level of organization and accuracy out of the gate, they finished the first quarter with eight points, over Hard Rock’s five points. But the Hard Rock Boys made some necessary adjustments going into the second. Earl Bolo Johnson with the put-back to keep the game within reach. Travis “Turbo” Bermudez shifting gears to get the basket and the foul on the inside, giving the Hard Rock Boys their first lead of the game. Hard Rock Boys finished the first half with sixteen points, while holding the Orange Court Generals to ten points. And they did not let go of their lead for the rest of the game.
Ultimately, the Hard Rock Boys, back-to-back defending champions, made history by becoming the first team to achieve a three-peat since the tournament’s inception in 2016. Their remarkable feat has set a new benchmark for excellence in the competition. This one finished with a score of thirty-three to twenty-six points. Hard Rock’s number ten, Raheem Thurton was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The championship team walked away with five thousand dollars. This tournament honors the legacy of the late William Dawson, and it is all about bringing rivaling communities together to work out their differences through basketball.
Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde, Coordinator, Williams Dawson Tournament
“I am proud to announce there was no major incident to speak on. But please hear this, for the first time in this tournament, there was nobody who got murdered, nobody who got arrested for attempted murder and murder, that is a huge accomplishment.”
Talking about huge accomplishments, Cory Williams secured gold for Belize at the 2024 Caribbean Elite Road Championships in Guyana. Here is the moment Williams crossed the finish line ahead of a ten-man group of lead riders, courtesy Victor Rutherford. Here they come, here goes the attack. We have Cory Williams to the front. We got Cory Williams to the front. We got Cory Williams. Cory Williams from Belize. He let them out and what he launched was it. Belize has won the Caribbean Championship. Cory Williams was released he hit the nitro and he was gone. So Belize is excited here with this win by Cory Williams. Additionally, Derrick “Young Phenom” Chavarria, won the silver medal in the Under- Twenty-Three Road Race, also held in Guyana. These are proud moments for Belize, and we say congratulations to team Belize for representing us well in the region.
And now for some highlights from the last game in the Inter-Office Basketball League’s semifinals. On Friday night Team Police and Team Airport Authority played their final match in a three-game series to determine who will place against Tuff-E-Nuff in the finals. These teams were neck and neck in the first two quarters, ending the first half at thirty to twenty-nine points in favor of team Police. In the third quarter, Police came out of the locker room with increased efficiency, scoring ten more points than their opponents, ballooning their lead to eleven points. Ultimately, Police are headed to the finals to face off against Tuff-E-Nuff in a series that promises excitement and endless highlight reels.
And finally, we end tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday with high praises for the Saint Catherine Academy’s and Saint John’s College’s volleyball teams for winning their high school regional volleyball tournament. This is SJC’s third year winning the regional tournament and SCA’s thirtieth year, talk about dominance. They are headed to the national tournament to compete against the top high school teams from across three other regions. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Nine-year-old karate student from the House of Shotokan Karate Academy Oliwia Ruta achieved three big wins this weekend at a karate competition in the United States. The Belen International Karate Tournament was held in New Mexico on Saturday. In her category, Ruta brought home three trophies in the three different divisions. We had the opportunity to speak with the academy’s Shihan, Raymond Kelly, and Ruta.
Raymond Kelly
Raymond Kelly, Shihan, The House of Shotokan
“She has travelled out to Mexico and has placed in karate competition and taekwondo competition; she has placed first place in the majority of her wins in Mexico. And she has travelled as of recently to the United States. And at that competition, she won first place, dominating all her categories at a nine-year-old level. That was Saturday, this past Saturday, the 19th of October, and the location was in New Mexico. So it was an international karate event that was held in the state of New Mexico in the United States. She came back with three trophy awards. She won one in the KATA division, another in the Fighting division, and another in the weaponry division. There’s a competition that is on taekwondo competition in Chetumal and also a karate competition in Chetumal. So there’s two that’s coming up for the month of November to close the, to close the year out for, for competition for the school.”
Oliwia Ruta
Oliwia Ruta, Karate Student, The House of Shotokan
“I’m really happy that I successfully got all first place. And I got three first place in KATA, Fighting and Weapon in the intermediate girls division. I didn’t win Grand Champion, but I’m planning to win it on the next tournament. When it actually got hard for me, I didn’t give up. My family cheered me the whole way. So if something is hard for you, you should never give up on your dreams.”
Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage with a look at the Inter-Office Basketball League’s semi-finals that took place on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The first match saw team Police face off against Belize Port Authority in their best-of-three series. Team Police is in the black and whole jersey. Airport Authority is wearing black and red.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Gilbert Belisle on the inside with the first points for team Police. Airport Authority’s Shakeem Valerio at the free throw line after being fouled during a shot attempt. He banked the first free throw and missed the second. Six minutes in, Police has four points and Airport Authority has one point. Ball to Linton Broaster at the three-point line and those shot counts. Broaster again, this time with the quick release, puts up a second three-point shot. The ball found Broaster once more in the first quarter and he did not disappoint, with a buzzer beater three-point shot to end the first quarter with eighteen points for team police. Airport Authority finished the first quarter with three points. Team Police secured an additional fourteen points in the second quarter, primarily led by Sheldon Williams, while Airport Authority added twelve points to their score. So, the score was thirty-two to fifteen at the end of the first half. Airport Authority really struggled to find their shots in this game. They only scored three three-point shots in this one, compared to seven overall three-point shots made by team Police. In the end, it was a dominant game for team Police. They finished with sixty-seven points to their opponent’s forty-eight points.
The second game of the night saw Tuff E Nuff take on the Belize City Council. Tuff E Nuff was in the black while the Belize City Council wore their blue jerseys. Jamal Kelly find Orland Ferguson open. He goes baseline and puts up the first two points for Tuff E Nuff. Jamal Kelly from the three-point line with a big three, taking his team to nine points and forcing their opponents to call a timeout. The game is at nine points to zero, in third minute.
City Council’s captain, Auburn Rivero finally able to put his team on the score board. Shortly after, Keon Rowland deflated their momentum with this three-point shot off the throw-in. Tuff E Nuff Captain Douglas Valley inflicting further punishment with this made three-point shot. The game is now at sixteen points to two. Earl “Bolo” Johnson finally getting something up for the Belize City Council to give his team four points. The first quarter ended with twenty-nine points for Tuff E Nuff and eleven for the Belize City Council. And, despite their best efforts, the Belize City Council wasn’t able to tighten the gap. Players like Ferguson, Valley and Tyrell Griffith proved too much for the Belize City Council. Leading scorers for that team were Johnson, Kevin Hamilton and Cordell Gonzalez. Ultimately, Tuff E Nuff won game one with eighty points to the Council’s fifty-five points. That’s a twenty-five-point win.
Belize’s Under-Twenty-One Male National Volleyball Team returned from Panama over the weekend with a bronze medal after competing in the Central American Under-Twenty-One Male Volleyball Championship. It is the first medal for the under-twenty-one national team in a regional tournament. Belize also walked away from several individual awards. Eliazar Mejia took the Best Hitter Award. Ingram Kaelen brought home the Best Opposite and the Top Scorer Awards. We say congratulations to the men’s national volleyball team for their stellar performance.
And now back to some basketball action. The Williams Dawson Sprite Basketball Tournament is now heading to the finals after its semi-final’s knockout matches on Sunday at the Yabra Greens basketball court. In the first match of the day, the defending champions Hard Rock Boys faced off against Hattieville Underdogs, with their eyes set on a three-peat. Early points for Hattieville from Devon Defour Zahir Harris putting up an additional two points for Hattieville.Gregory Buckley, Hattieville’s big man, gets it in. Looking for an opportunity to break Hattieville’s momentum, Earl “Bolo” Johnson gets a bucket. Herman Ramos under the rim, caught the defense sleeping, gets the easy layup.Jason Vasquez with the beautiful put back for the defending champions. On the other hand, Brand Rogers responded with a three-point shot over Johnson. The first quarter ended at eleven points apiece. But the Hard Rock Boys broke away in the second quarter, scoring seven points more than their opponents.
They finished the first half with twenty-four points to their opponent’s seventeen. Fatigue began setting in the second half. It ended up being a low-scoring half. Hard Rock Boys put up a total of thirteen additional points. Their opponents scored twelve points in the second half. In the end, Hard Rock Boys won the game with thirty-seven points to Hattieville Underdog’s twenty-nine points. The defending champions have secured another trip to the finals to play for all the marbles. Their opponents in the final match will be the Orange Court Generals led by Jayron Baptist and Francis Arana. They defeated Dan 1 with a final score of forty-three to thirty-four points.
Well folks, that is all we have for you in this coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Two weeks ago, Belize proudly sent one hundred and forty young athletes to compete in the Under-18 CODICADER Games in El Salvador. These talented students showcased their skills in athletics, basketball, football, and volleyball, representing high schools from across the country. Their performances were nothing short of impressive. To honor their achievements, Minister of Sports Rodwell Ferguson will host a celebratory dinner for the athletes at Old Belize on Friday night. He shared that despite not playing on home turf, the young athletes remained unfazed and gave it their all.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“We are going to have a dinner tomorrow evening at the Old Belize for all the athletes who went to Salvador to participate in the CODICADER Games about two weeks ago. As a country, a small country in the region, we did extremely well. We came in third place in female football, third place in volleyball, male and female, and likewise, second place in basketball, and you know the young lady who got gold medal in track and field I think it was the hundred-meters, and she also got a silver in some other event. So far we’re doing good as a country.”
Belize’s National Senior Men’s Football Team is gearing up for the Gold Cup with a fresh face leading the charge. Charlie Slusher took over as head coach in July, and since then, Team Belize has been making waves on the field. Last week, they crushed Anguilla at the F.F.B. Stadium in Belmopan. Tonight, they’re set to take on Turks and Caicos at the same venue. On Friday, Head Coach Slusher shared his thoughts on what to expect from the team tonight and their exciting journey to the Gold Cup.
Charlie Slusher
Charlie Slusher, Head Coach, National Men’s Football Team
“On Tuesday night we play against Turks and Caicos Island and again our key thing is that we want to, when it comes to our standings, we want to try to rank the number one ranking team in the entire group C, although we already went to B, but it is still a ranking process. So, we need to score some goals against Turk because it is a ranking process. I love to see, as a coach, the direction we are heading in, especially with the time we have. I started in July, and we started camp later and when you are seeing so many positive things. We cannot be perfect overnight, but we are seeing a lot of positive things, and I like I said I am happy with the direction or the buy in from our players and trying to change the culture and the style of play, adapting to some of the things I believe that can help us. One of the things that can surely help us is that in the past we would lay back and wait to be slaughtered. We must take the game to them. It doesn’t matter who we are. We got to play pressure football. We got to pressure the opponents. If anybody watched the game, we didn’t give that team any chance to build up any opportunity to play. They had to force the ball and that is our playing style we want to adapt. We are very good at it.”
