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HomeNewsArchivesUSVI MEN MAKE IT TO HOOP FINALS; WOMEN DON'T

USVI MEN MAKE IT TO HOOP FINALS; WOMEN DON'T

July 5, 2002 – The U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic will meet in the men's final of the Verne R. Callwood Sr. Caribbean Basketball Confederation 16th annual Senior Championships on Saturday. And for the women's championship, Puerto Rico will face the Dominican Republic.
The four teams advanced to the finals in play Friday at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.
Bahamas, Antigua/Barbuda men eliminated
The USVI men triumphed over the Bahamas, 78-65. The Bahamas led 20-19 at the end of the first quarter, but the Virgin Islanders led in scoring for the other three periods. They had the biggest score differential in the third quarter, 24-15.
Cuthbert Victor had 24 points for the USVI, sinking nine of his 10 shots in the game, five of them three-pointers. Teammates Jameel Heywood and Jabahri Brown had 15 and 14 points, respectively. Ethanie Stubbes had 18 points to lead the Bahamas.
In the other men's semifinal game, the Dominican Republic won against Antigua/Barbuda, 93-73. After Antigua/Barbuda held the lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter, the Dominicanos stayed out front for most of the game.
The Dominican Republic shot 60 percent in field goals to Antigua/Barbuda's 39 percent. The Dominicanos also dominated in rebounds, 52-23, and had the advantage in fast-break points, 34-2.
The game's leading scorer was Bryan Matthew with 26 points for Antigua/Barbuda. Luis Flores led the Dominican Republic with 20.
In two men's consolation games played earlier Friday, Jamaica beat Aruba, 115-63, and Barbados defeated the British Virgin Islands, 68-59.
The USVI will play the Dominican Republic in the men’s championship at 7 p.m. Saturday. Antigua/Barbuda will play the Bahamas at 3 p.m. for third place game. In two more consolation games, the BVI will face Aruba at 9 a.m. and Barbados will go up against Jamaica at 11 a.m.
USVI, Bahamas women bow out
The U.S. Virgin Islands women's team lost to Puerto Rico, 67-66, in semifinal action Friday after being in the lead from the start until the final seconds of the game. Puerto Rico trailed by seven points, 57-64, with 1:10 remaining in the game, but the USVI could not hold on to the lead.
Puerto Rico's Felicity Willis made two quick lay-ups in the next 10 seconds to cut the USVI lead to three points, 64-61. The USVI missed two of four free throws in the next 10 seconds after that, while Puerto Rico made another lay-up to stay within three points of the USVI, 66-63. Willis then made two free throws — and then the game-winning jump shot with 6 seconds remaining in the game.
Puerto Rico made more points off turnovers than the USVI, 29-18.
Willis had 35 points to lead Puerto Rico and Yesenia Mendez scored 10. Lynia Liburd led the USVI with 17 points and 13 rebounds; Natasha Lettsome added nine points and 13 rebounds, while Tajama Abraham had 16 points and nine rebounds.
In the other women’s semifinal game, the Dominican Republic defeated the Bahamas, 96-67. The Bahamas led for the first 3:15 of the game but would never lead again.
Juana Duran lead the Dominicanas with 24 points and nine rebounds, and Andriana Paniagua added 21 points. For the Bahamas, Sharrelle Cash had 25 points; teammate Anastacia Sands had 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Puerto Rico will play the Dominican Republic at 5 p.m. for the women's championship. The USVI will play the Bahamas at 1 p.m. for third place.

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