Eleuthera Basketball Wins Silver in Inagua

In The Eleutheran's April edition the Eleuthera Basketball Association's President Andre Butler predicted that  the 2008 champions, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Enforcers would do well at the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) 1 st Daniel Simmons Invitational held in Matthew Town Inagua last month.

The team inclusive of   'Michael 'Banana' Johnson, University of Pittsburgh Panthers former basketball player and graduate Doyle Hudson from  Lower Bogue and the Bluff, Jamaal Hudson out of Tarpum Bay, Joel Simmons out of Hatchet Bay, Sammy Thompson of Gregory Town, Barron Rolle, Daniel Geriszerski, Savannah Petty and Corporal Brown from Governor's Harbor did well indeed as they won the silver medal.

The New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) champions the Commonwealth Bank Giants coached by Palmetto Point native Perry Thompson won the championship game over the Enforcers, 84-59.

Veteran player Micheal 'Banana' Johnson proved that he still has the touch as he scored 23 points, including five three pointers to lead the Enforcers while Hudson and Jamaal Henfield scored 11 points apiece in the loss.

Eleuthera and New Providence advanced to the championship after finishing the double elimination tournament with a 3-0 record. Several championship teams attended the Invitational that was dubbed 'the nationals'  representing various Family Islands such as San Salvador, Abaco, Cat Island and Inagua.

 Enforcers' coach Nehemiah Brown was impressed with the team's effort.

Seasoned player Daniel Geriszerski told The Eleutheran this was the furthest any basketball team from Eleuthera  advanced in a BBF event in over 10 years.

"We would not have made it this far without Inspector Armbrister and Doyle's help. So all thanks goes to God. Also it feels great to win the silver medal and it shows that basketball is being revived in Eleuthera,"Geriszerski said.

Also Hudson noted: "I hope that this achievement by myself and the team shows the younger Eleutherans that no matter how successful you may become you are never to great to give back to your island. The Enforcers worked hard this season and many doubted our  chances at winning the EBA title and medaling in Inagua."   


By the end of the EBA regular season the Skywalkers finished with a win/loss record of 9-1, the Rockets finished second at 8-2, third place was the Blazers at 7-3, fourth place went to the Hawks at 5-5, the Enforcers were fifth at 5-5, sixth place went to the Chargers  at 3-7, Green Castle finished seventh at 2-8 and Ballers ended up ninth at 1-9.

In related news there are several BBF events planned for this year. A basketball clinic is scheduled to be held in honor of the late coach Godfrey McQuay June 5- 7 at the Sir Kendal GL Isaacs Gym (KGLI) in Nassau, a BBF summer basketball program is set for July 1 at the Tom Grant Park in Nassau, an Independence basketball tournament is on tap for July 9-12 at the KGLI, the Centro America Cadet Tournament is scheduled for the month of July, the Junior Centro Basketball Championships is planned during the month of June in the Dominican Republic, the Goombay shoot-out set for the KGLI from August 29 - September 1, and the Junkanoo Jam is set for November 21-22 in Grand Bahama.

Copyright, The Eleutheran News Agency 2008-2010.

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