The NBA finals are over but in St Lucia things are just heating up as the finals in two divisions got underway Sunday evening at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.
On opening night it should have been the other way around, but it was Combined Schools who gave the ISE a lesson they won’t soon forget in the opening game of a best of three series in the National Basketball League finals Sunday evening at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.
Combined Schools defeated ISE academy 56-47. Troy Louison of Combined Schools led all scorers with 18 points (pts) to go along with nine rebounds (rebs) and three steals. Teammate Jadson Montoute chipped in with a double-double of 13 pts and 10 rebs.
Femi Lucien was the high man for ISE with 10 pts and 11rebs.
Combined Schools used an attacking style of play by continuously driving to the basket. If they didn’t score they were frequently at the foul line. They shot and made a high percentage of three throws which made a huge difference in the game.
Combined Schools who have been training early this year will represent St Lucia at the upcoming Windward Islands School Games which begins at the end of July.
Manager Clivus Jules said: “We have registered a lot of improvements with these guys since sessions started with Coach Andy and Coach Gabriel.
It should be noted that Gabriel while helping Combined Schools prepare for the Windward Islands Schools Games, also coaches ISE so you could say it’s a win-win situation for him.
Game two of that series continues on Thursday at the Beausejour Indoor Facility at 6 pm.
Following the Combined Schools ISE encounter, The Premier League finals which is also a best of three encounter also got underway.
This series final is a rematch between three time defending champions Courts Jets and VBCC Warlords-arguably two of the more successful clubs in local basketball. The first game of the best of three series lived up to the hype. There was end to end action before the champs pulled away from VBCC late in the fourth with a 69-61 win to lead 1-0 in the best of three series.
Ron DuMurville of Courts Jets led all scorers with 22 pts and five rebs. Andre Louison also chipped in with 16 pts, eight rebounds. He should also be on St Lucia’s Most Wanted list along with teammate Keegan Preville after registering seven steals. Keegan also had 12 pts and 12 rebs.
The big story in this game was how Jets were able to contain the VBCC’s big man in the middle Marcian Calderon. He was kept in check for most of the night registering a tournament low 10 pts shooting four from 11 from the field.
Turns out that Nigel Butcher was the high man for VBCC, with 14 pts to go along with six steals and five assists.
Game two in this series also continues on Thursday with Courts Jets hoping to close out the series and win yet another title. Game time is 8 pm.
