By: Charleston Gladden
As the 2018 Pespi NEBL season is coming to a close, teams are doing their final wrapping up either by preparing for their final game of the season and the playoffs. That’s what both Smart Belize Hurricanes and Griga Dream Ballers are doing. As they faced off against each other for the final time this season and potentially will be seeing each other again in the playoffs. Smart Belize Hurricanes are trying to extend their winning streak to 4. While Dream Ballers are trying to bounce back from a lost against San Pedro Tiger Sharks few weeks back.
After the jump ball Smart Belize Hurricanes went on a 10 – 4 run due to their excellent shot selection and outstanding rebounding, thus forcing Dream Ballers to call an early timeout. After regrouping in the huddle, Griga Dream Ballers were finally able to tie up the game at 11 with 4:17 in the first quarter by a basket by Daniel Nolberto. Thus, having the home fans bursting in excitement. Moments later Griga took the lead with one of Mitchel’s five three-pointer. By the end of the first quarter, Dream Ballers had a small three point lead with the score knotted up at 20 – 17. Momentarily after the start of the second quarter both teams were exchanging lead, and weren’t giving any type of advantages on either side. That was until Smart Belize Hurricanes went on a 10 – 3 run mid quarter, had a cushion lead going into halftime but the Dream Ballers were low on time as they were only able to be down by 8 points going into halftime. While in the second half, Dream Ballers stepped up on their defensive intensity and were able to cut the lead down to only 3 points by a monstrous dunk by Tahj Wells which energized the crowd causing them to be in a frenzy. That didn’t stop Smart Hurricanes not one bit as they scored on back-to-back to silenced the crowd, and push their lead to 13 points, their largest lead in the game. At 6:31 of the fourth quarter Dream Ballers finally regained the lead since 8:45 of the second quarter; however, it was short lived as Smart Hurricanes showed the Griga Dream Ballers and their home crowd why they’re the best defensive team in league. As they forced Griga to mismanage the basketball thus leaving them frustrated and discombobulated, and limiting them to only 3 points within that period of time. As a result Hurricanes won the game with a 12 point lead with a score of 73 – 61.
Player of the game goes to Tyson Reynold with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Key contributors for Smart Belize Hurricanes were Akeem Watters with 14 points. Brian White with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Top players for Griga Dream Ballers were Edgar Mitchel with a game-high of 20 points with 5 of 7 from beyond the arch along with 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Tahj Wells tallied 14 points and 9 rebounds.
TIP IN:
Dream Ballers: first back to back lost this season… Nayib Casimiro finished the game with 7 points and Macario Augustine with 6 points…
Hurricanes: have won four straight game with a margin of 25.3 points… Glency Lopez finished with 9 points and 8 assists and Raheem Thurton with 9 points and 5 rebounds…
UP NEXT:
Dream Ballers: Smart Belize Hurricanes on May 4th, 2018 (Venue TBA)
Hurricanes: Griga Dream Ballers on May 4th, 2018 (Venue TBA)