The NEBL tournament jump started last night at the UB gymnasium with a recap of last year’s final game; featuring the Belmopan Bandits squaring off against the San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The Tiger Sharks immediately pounced; as though remembering the humiliation they had suffered at the hands of the mighty NEBL Champs, the Belmopan Bandits, last season. The Tiger Sharks had no mercy on the Bandits; displaying coordination, good hustling and eagerness to win! The first quarter started with both teams playing with caution, testing each other strengths. By the second quarter, the Tiger Sharks had already noticed that the Bandits had no horses – they were on foot with no boots; no match for the Sheriff visiting Bandit land! The Tiger Sharks ended the second quarter with a win increased by twenty-one winding up with a score of 51 – 30. The third and fourth quarters, were the cherries on the cake. Nets were coming from everywhere! The defenseless Bandits were hobbled by a lack of team practice and their inability to score. A lesson hopefully learnt by the Bandits camp. If you don’t want to be humiliated at home and start with a losing morale, be prepared and take the NEBL season seriously! The Bandits will no doubt recover and strike back. The talent is there, as displayed by their new US import – Luther da Shane Page and their new discovered talent, Jevaughn Mckensie. Once the Bandits get their machinery going, expect good things from them.

The Tiger Sharks were led by Mr. Sharp Shooter: Ashton “The Snipper” Edwards with 22 points, Jamal Kelly with 20 points, Jihad Wright with double doubles, 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, Douglas Valley with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block and Raul Roches with 13 points, 8 rebounds 1 block. In a losing effort, the Bandits were led by Luther da Shane Page with 15 points, 5 rebounds, Stephen Williams with 9 points, 8 rebounds, Farron Louriano with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block and Jevaughn Mckensie with 9 points.

 

By Joaquin David Magaña