Three-time defending champions New Chapter Academy (NCA) Warriors from Trinidad & Tobago made a fast start to the Aloysius “Loloy” Daniel Youth Classic Tournament, besting Antigua & Barbuda’s Pitbulls on Monday at the Beausejour Gymnasium.
Basketball For The Future Pitbulls also beat East Coast Academy (ECA) Tigers in the only all-Saint Lucian matchup, while ECA Lions dominated Guyana’s D-UP Academy.
The Warriors routed Antigua & Barbuda’s travel-weary Pitbulls 85-52. The Antiguans flew into Saint Lucia on gameday after significant flight delays and came straight to the venue from their flight. Nonetheless, they had their moments.
Both squads finished with an identical 32.3% from the field and 18.2% from three-point range, while Pitbulls held the advantage at the charity stripe (72.7% to 52.8%). But the Warriors’ 94-foot pressure helped them to an 11-0 run to start the game.
The Pitbulls fought back, clawing back to within two, 18-16 after the opening frame. In the second period, though, Warriors opened with a 13-0 run and never looked back, detonating for 30 points while limiting Pitbulls to just 12.
Kyan Cordner orchestrated the attack with a game-high 23 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Jervais Edwards added 19 points and eight boards, while Rannan Howard had 12 points and six rebounds. Erije Joseph and Jaden Lewis led Pitbulls with 10 points each.
ECA Lions beat D-Up Academy 75-37. The home team got 20 points from Sage Lewis, backed by an all-around 17-point, nine-rebound, five-steal performance from Nezan Lewis.
BFTF Pitbulls defeated ECA Tigers 28-13, as Imani Gonzagne tallied 11 points and four steals. The Tigers battled on the offensive glass (10 offensive rebounds) but could not overcome poor shooting from the stripe (15.8% FT) and a stagnant half-court offence.
The tournament for under-18 boys is named after Daniel, a former national basketball player and strong supporter of local sports.
