By: Charleston Gladden

In the first meeting of the season between Smart Belize Hurricanes and DigiCell Belize City Defenders came with high expectations for both teams coming from the city. Also both teams are playoffs contenders and possible championship contenders, so the winner will earn bragging rights until their next meeting as superior of the city. In addition, more attention was gathered between both Lopez brothers against each other, Glency and Lincey Lopez, who have been playing phenomenal basketball of their NEBL career.

Little less than a minute passed tip off, and the defenders fans erupted with a vicious dunk by Nigel Jones. After the dunk, DigiCell Defenders gained the jump against their Belize City rivals, and the score was at 11 – 6 at the midway of the first quarter. Shortly after, Nigel Jones again threw one of the angriest dunks that Belize City has ever seen causing them to erupt in excitement. But Smart Hurricanes weren’t going to end the first quarter being down large, thus making a push and as a result ending the first quarter being down by 6 with a score of 20 – 14. In the second quarter it was the role players for Defenders who made an impact on the game, and extended the lead to 15 points with 4:32 remaining in the first half. Every other basket made by Defenders after that point had their fans roaring with excitement, and finishing the first half with a score of 39 – 27. Seconds into the second half the lead was extended to 17, but Smart Belize Hurricanes were able cut down that deficit to a single digits and forcing Defenders’ Head Coach to call a timeout and regroup his players. After the timeout, Smart Hurricanes brought the game within 6 points, but weren’t able to keep up with DigiCell Defender’s intensity as they fell to 17 once again. At this point of the game both teams already knew who’s be the winner, thus emptying out their benches and letting their reserves play the remaining minutes.

Player of the games goes to Nigel Jones of DigiCell Belize City Defenders finishing with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Other contributing players for DigiCell Belize City Defenders were Jacob Leslie with 16 points. Lincey Lopez with 10 points and 8 assists and Darwin Leslie with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Top players for Smart Belize Hurricanes were Kurt Burgess with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Akeem Watters finishing with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Tyson Reynold with 12 points and 9 rebound

TIP IN:

Hurricanes: Brain White retuned into the lineup after missing last week’s game against Verdes with a Bruised Knee finishing with 15 points and 14 rebound…

Defenders: Shot above their season of 31.6 percent with 50 percent from the three-point line… are in the playoffs picture (4 – 2)…

UP NEXT:

Hurricanes: Hosts San Pedro Tiger Sharks on March 23rd, 2018

Defenders: Visits Dangriga Dream Ballers on March 16th, 2018