A player from Winning Mentality floats to the basket during the game against Starz on Sunday September 4, 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Starz were flying high until Winning Mentality (yellow) lived up to their name. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Action in the game between Junior Stars (yellow) and Swaggas. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The Young Stars (yellow) had an easy time in defeating the much smaller Swaggas, 40-27, with K’ntenay Maduro notching 12 points. Photo: Charlie E Jackson/VINO

Friday’s, September 2, 2016 wins for Next and the Avengers were merely aperitifs as Saturday’s matches kicked the season up a notch and satisfied the hunger for basketball.

Next are emerging as serious contenders in the Eastern Division with two wins from two with their latest win, 96-87 over the Warriors, inspired by Killven M. Samuel, who scored 21 points with 12 rebounds. Stephan S. Caul added 17 points and the team got double digit efforts from Clint Weston, Enrico Harrigan and Kelvis Phillips.

In the Western Division, the Avengers maintained their unbeaten start with an 80-79 victory over the Starz, led by 20 points and 11 rebounds from Nicos Penn. Kimron Telemaque and Phillip Glasgow are doing their best to keep the Starz season alive, but they are now, following another defeat on Sunday 0-3 and fast being labelled as “chokers”.

Splash Brothers get off the mark

Saturday’s action saw one of the pre-season favourites, the Splash Brothers get a mark in the win column, albeit through a forfeiture win over Community One.

We Dem Boys, in the Eastern Division, also got on the winning track, beating Pure Playaz, 75-73, with Lenroy Grant notching 17 points, Akeno Gumbs 14, Alwood Forbes 13 with 11 rebounds and Riquan Fahie 13 with 15 rebounds. Jachoy Walwyn led the Playaz with 23 points and 8 rebounds.

The West Gunners welcomed back Ray D. Victor for the game against Red Zone and he helped himself to 29 points in a comfortable 108-80 victory. Romain Minot picked up 18 points, Douran Phillips 15 with 20 rebounds and Bjorn Caleb 11 with 15 rebounds.

Amazing comeback win for Winning Mentality

On Sunday September 4, 2016, Winning Mentality pulled off an amazing come from behind overtime victory over the Starz, 88-85. The Starz had been ahead by double digits for much of the first three quarters, but began to lose control of the game as Winning Mentality, spurred on by Daruis Stevens and Bodean Samuel, chipped away at the deficit to be on par half way through the fourth quarter.

Winning Mentality were up by three with just over two minutes of the game remaining, up by four heading into the last 90 seconds, but the teams were tied at the buzzer, (78-78), sending the game into an extra five minutes.

Winning Mentality would not be denied, running out winners by three points and with Stevens totalling 25 points and Samuel 21. Vaughn Bassue contributed another 13 points, whilst Daryl Alexander finished with 11. The Starz got 17 points and 15 rebounds from Glasgow, 17 points from Lestin Wiltshire and 16 from Telemaque.

Perfect record for Momentum

The final game of the weekend saw Momentum make it 3 from 3 to remain joint top of the Western Division, after beating the Warrias 81-72. Next up though is a clash with the also unbeaten Blazers, with something having to give, as both are yet to lose this season.

Shamar George led the way with 23 points, 17 rebounds and Lyle W. Duggins hit 14. The Warriors were led by Shaquille K. Fonseca’s 22 points and 11 rebounds.

In the Junior Division games, the Young Stars had an easy time in defeating the much smaller Swaggas, 40-27, with K’ntenay Maduro notching 12 points.

Upcoming schedule:

Friday September 9, 2016
7:00 PM Bayside Blazers vs Momentum 
8:30 PM Next vs We Dem Boyz 

Saturday September 10, 2016
5:00 PM Thunders vs Swaggas (Junior Division)

6:30 PM Starz  vs Pure Playaz

8:00 PM Avengers vs Red Zone

9:30 PM Splash Brothers vs Winning Mentality 

Sunday September 11, 2016
5:00 PM Jr. Stars vs Ghut Boys (Junior Division)

6:30 PM Community One vs Starz

8:00 PM Warrias vs West Gunners