July 5, 2002 – The U.S. Virgin Islands men's and women's teams advanced to the semifinals in the Verne R. Callwood, Sr. Caribbean Basketball Confederation sixteen annual Senior Championships on Thursday at the University of the Virgin Islands Sport and Fitness Center. The USVI men's team defeated Jamaica, 82-63.
The Dominican Republic beat the Bahamas, 85-73 in the only women's game of the day. Juana Duran led the Dominican Republic with 20 points. Shantelle Rolle led the Bahamas with 13 points.
The Dominican Republic women's team, 3-1, clinched the number one seed with the victory. The USVI and Puerto Rico also had 3-1 records. The Dominican Republic won the tie-breaker to take the number one seed. The Bahamas finished 1-3 and Barbados 0-4.
The USVI will play Puerto Rico at 5 p.m. Friday. The USVI will try to avenge Tuesday evening's 32-point defeat, 82-50. The Dominican Republic will face the Bahamas at 1 p.m. in the other semifinal game.
The USVI men got hot and lit it up from behind the three-point line in the fourth quarter. The USVI made four of their six three-point attempts in the quarter. Carl Thomas III made three of four three-point shots in the quarter and four for five for the game.
USVI head coach, Glen "Kimble" Williams gave all the credit for his team's four quarter outburst to Thomas. Williams said, "Thomas is a great shooter and that's what great shooters do." Williams was also very proud of his teams' performance. He noted "we boxed out well and played good defense with our full court press."
The score was 49-43 after three quarters because both teams had a strong defensive game. The USVI scored 33 points in the final quarter which made the crowd of over 1000 stand to their feet and even do the wave.
Thomas led his team with 14 points. Cuthbert Victor had 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Michael Kennedy led Jamaica with 20 points and 11 rebounds and his teammate Julian Dunkley had 18 points.
In other men's action, the Dominican Republic beat the Bahamas, 93-75. Jeff and Ricardo Greer each had 16 points to lead the Dominican Republic. Glenroy Ferguson led the Bahamas with 19 points.
Antigua-Barbuda beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 84-76. Jason Brazier had 25 points to lead Antigua-Barbuda in scoring. His teammate, Bryan Matthew had a double-double with 21 points and ten rebounds. Shawn Browne led St. Vincent and the Grenadines with 23 points. The USVI's men's team finished on top of Pool B with a 4-0 record.
Antigua-Barbuda finished 3-1 to clinch the second seed in the division. Jamaica has a 2-2 record. The British Virgin Islands are 1-3 and St. Vincent-Grenadines are 0-4.
The Dominican Republic topped Pool A with a 3-0 record. The Bahamas finished second with a 2-1 record. Barbuda were 1-2 and Aruba finished 0-3.
The USVI will play the Bahamas at 7 p.m.. The Dominican Republic will face Antigua-Barbuda at 3 p.m. in the other men's semifinal game.
