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Controversy as Jr Mystics defeat Jr Skillfull Ballers in 2022 rematch

- Coach 'Gola' walked off court accusing referees of cheating
VG Junior Mystics were enjoying a handsome lead when the game with Skillful Ballers of Tortola was stopped after the Tortola team was pulled off the court by Coach Ronald Simmons aka Gola. The game was given to VG Mystics. Photo: Team of Reporters
Vg Mystics celebrate their championship in the B Division of the BVIBF District League. Photo: Team of Reporters
Vg Mystics celebrate their championship in the B Division of the BVIBF District League. Photo: Team of Reporters
The score when the game was stopped as in a favour of VG Mystics. Photo: Team of Reporters
The score when the game was stopped as in a favour of VG Mystics. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Many would remember in the 2021 BVI Basketball Federation (BVIBF) District League there was controversy when the Virgin Gorda junior team carrying the name at the time of Jr Bayside Blazers was robbed of competing in the championship game.

What happened in 2021?

The issue had come about when the coach of Jr Skillful Ballers, Ronald Simmonds aka ‘Gola’, wrote a letter to the Federation asking that a referee, Norval A. Young, from Virgin Gorda be removed from refereeing the game because Simmonds felt Young would have cheated for the then Jr Bayside Blazers.

The letter was never brought to the attention of the opposing team and the night of the final game when the then Jr Bayside Blazers' management discovered the unfair situation moments before the game was to start, a decision was made to return the team to Virgin Gorda. The game last year was then forfeited to Jr Skillful Ballers.

In the 2022 league, the same two teams, Jr Skillful Ballers and Jr Mystics from Virgin Gorda, made it to the championship game.

This time Mr Young was not refereeing the game.

The Jr Mystics had piled much pressure on the Jr Skillful Ballers and led them through the game by at least 15 points.

The score at the time was Jr Mystics 64 points and Jr Skillful Ballers 48 points, with 3 plus minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, when coach Simmonds had an outburst against the referees.

He was then given a Double Technical Foul.

Gola’s losing excuses?

Mr Simmonds then pulled his team Jr Skillful Ballers off the court, claiming that “the referees were not calling fair and that they were against my team.”

The game was then forfeited to Jr Mystics; however, most fans and sports commentators believed they would have won anyway. One fan who was at the game noted: “the situation came full circle as when Gola is losing he is always blaming the referees.”

The B League Championship was awarded to Jr Mystic of Virgin Gorda with a final score of 64-48.

The 2022 VG Jr Mystics team was managed and coached by Trevor M. Stevens aka 'West' and sponsored by Hon Vincent O. Wheatley, the Ninth District Representative.

12 Responses to “Controversy as Jr Mystics defeat Jr Skillfull Ballers in 2022 rematch”

  • Fan (11/07/2022, 16:40) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Shame on gola
  • hmm (11/07/2022, 16:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The world is a cycle!
  • onlooker (11/07/2022, 17:08) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Coaches need to set an example to these young players. Every game is an opportunity to improve. Winning is good but being able to accept defeat gracefully is just as good. I am sure there are avenues to lodge complaints if a coach thinks that their team is being cheated. Walking off or pulling your team out of a game is NOT an acceptable solution.
  • please (11/07/2022, 20:40) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    West, PLEASE stop carrying this team to Tortola to participate in their league. They have no respect for us and don’t deserve for Virgin Gorda to be supporting them.
  • no way (11/07/2022, 22:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What kind of moral ethics are we teaching the children, must they quit every time something is not going as planned? you win some, you lose some, there is no way you can win every match.
  • Vg gal (12/07/2022, 08:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    See last year came back at gola
  • Blessed child (12/07/2022, 18:30) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sad sad sad. Congratulations team vg a job well done. Gala you run but you cant hide vg is indeed the better team and you know this in your heart Gala.
    • Anonymous (13/07/2022, 12:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So u think vg is not the better team the referees in that gym did a horrible job
  • Island boy (13/07/2022, 12:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If that “ Stevens “ boy from Valley was there, it would’ve been an even bigger blowout. Congrats to Jr. Mystics.....
    • facts (18/07/2022, 10:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      GOLA IS MISSING A LOT OF PLAYERS YOU'LL DONT KNOW THAT BARZEY, LENIQUE, DILLION 3 KEY PLAYERS
  • facts (15/07/2022, 09:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE COACH PULLED HIS PLAYERS BEFORE THE GAME LAST SEASON, THIS SEASON COACH SIMMONS WITNESS HIS TEAM NOT GETTING FOUL CALLS 3 TIMES IN A ROW WHEN HIS PLAYER DROVE TO THE BASKET AND WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND, SECONDLY THIS INDIVIDUAL PLAYER MADE 3 STEPS BEFORE DRIBBILING THE BALL THAT IS TRAVELING AND HE DID THAT THROUGHOUT THE GAME. oNE OF THE REFEREES WAS MAD FOR HIM CALLING HIS PLAYER FROM TALKING TO THE REFEREES, TELL ME AS A COACH YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO PROTECT YOUR PLAYERS AT ALL TIMES LAST YAER IN VG ONE OF HIS PLAYER SUFFERED A CONCUSION SO YOU AS PARENT HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS ACTION WAS.
    WINNING, THIS COACH HAD 3 TEAMS IN ALL LEAGUES A,B,C SECTION WON THE C SECTION AND LOST THE A LEAGUE BY 2, 4 POINTS.
    ACCOPLISHMENTS, tHIS COACH HAS GONE ON TWO TOURNMENTS THIS YEAR WON A HUGE TOURNAMENT IN ST.THOMAS AND WAS NOT HONNORED, TOOK WEST VG PLAYER LEONARD AND EXPOSED HIM, WHAT HAS WEST AND THE VG DONE TO IMPROVE THE PLAYERS.GOLA SYSTEM HAS 4 ACTIVE PLAYERS AWAY TO PREP SCHOOOL SO IF YOU ALL DONT SEE THIS GUY WORKS FOR FREE EVERYDAY TRAINING OUR PLAYERS SO IF HE DECIDES TO PROTECT HIS PLAYERS SO THEN WHAT . CHECK THE FACTS


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