By Charleston Gladden

In the most anticipated game of the season both, Smart Belize Hurricanes and Belmopan Bandits have more than a bitter rivalry going on and have bad blood between them. Both teams has won their last game and are now looking to solidify themselves in the standings to close out the first half of the season.

In mid first quarter Belmopan Bandits had a nine point lead and were giving the impressions that the game was going to be a blowout, but Smart Belize Hurricanes showed Belmopan why they’re the one number one defensive team in the league and trimmed their defect to only by five points by the end of the first quarter. While in the second quarter, stepped up their defensive even more as they brought the game to a single possession. While on the other end, Belmopan Bandits won’t give up their lead as easily thus firing back with every possession. Ending the first half with Belmopan Bandits still being up by two points with the score knotted up at 36 – 34. At 8:57 of the third quarter, Smart Belize Hurricanes tied up the game at 36, but at 7:55 is when they got their first lead of the game. As time ticked down to end the third Belmopan tried to regain the lead back, but Smart Hurricanes just answered back with twice the power and having their biggest lead of the game at thirteen points. Unfortunately, that thirteen point lead was sliced down to a three point game going into the fourth. While in the fourth, both teams went blow for blow, basket for basket as both won’t give the other any leverage of any to come out with a victory thus forcing an overtime game. While in overtime both teams were still going blow for blow. Smart Hurricanes remembered the last time they played an overtime game in Belmopan, and did not want to repeat the same mistake twice as they were up by a single point with 17 seconds remaining in OT with Belmopan inbounding the ball. After the was inbounded with little less than a second trimmed off the clock, the ball was stolen by Hurricane’s Guard, Eyan Rene forcing Belmopan to foul, thus determining the fate of the Hurricanes with two made free-throws and giving Smart Belize Hurricanes the win with a score of 81 – 77.

Player of the games goes to Akeem Watters finishing with a game high of 21 points, 7 steals, and 6 rebounds while shooting 63% from the field. Other key players for Smart Belize Hurricanes were Glency Lopez with 17 points and 4 assists. American Import, Tyson Reynold with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Top Players for Belmopan Bandits were Luther Page with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Pascascio with 18 points and 5 rebounds and Stephen Williams with 13 points and 4 steals.

TIP IN 

Bandits: Farron Louriano with 9 points and 11 rebounds… are now with one of the worst home record at 1 – 3…

Hurricanes: Eyan Rene with 8 points and the game winning steal… Glency Lopez suffered a mild concussion with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return to play in OT. His condition is at a game time decision whether to play in Saturday’s game against Dangriga Dream Ballers… Akeem Watters is suffering from a groin tightness (left) after Thursday’s game against Belmopan Bandits and is at game time decision.

UP NEXT: 

Bandits: Travelling to San Ignacio to face off against Verdes on February 24, 2018

Hurricanes: Hosting Dangriga on February 24, 2018