Basketball: National League-Cobras’ championship dream in tatters after Baya loss |05 May 2009

Premium Cobras 68 … Baya 78

Baya wanted to rub salt into Cobras’ wounds as the Angel Fish-sponsored Curtain-raiser tournament champions had lost 76-85 to MBU Rockers in their previous match.

It looked as if the Cobras were to get back to winning ways as they stepped up their defence after Baya’s Andy Monthy netted the first points off the glass with 54 seconds played in the first quarter.

They led 15-5 on a tip-in by Nigerian Alao Solomon with 3 minutes 53 seconds (3:53) left in the opening quarter, but their lead was cut to seven points – 18-11– at the end of the first 10 minutes of play.

On Darren Lesperance’s second 3-pointer with 6:29 left in the second quarter, Cobras again held a 10-point lead at 29-19, but it quickly shrank to one – 31-30 – before they scored seven more points compared to Baya’s one for a 38-31 half-time advantage.

With player of the year Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Camille rediscovering his scoring touch with 12 points, including two treys, in the second period after firing blanks in the first, Baya outscored the Cobras 47-30.

Forward Dave Roseline was instrumental in Baya’s comeback, getting 10 of his game-leading 23 points in the second period. In the final 30 seconds of the third quarter, centre Robert Léon gave Baya the lead at 54-53 and skipper Steve Denis scored on a lay-up to extend it to 56-53 after 30 minutes of play.

A Steve Allisop three-point play gave Cobras the lead at 64-59, but Baya equalised at 64-64 on a Roseline lay-up and they used a 14-4 run to close the game at 78-68.

The win is Baya’s fourth in as many matches for a maximum eight points, while Cobras have dropped two in four games.

Mont Fleuri Dawgz 44 … MBU Rockers 61

Like Baya, the Rockers are on four wins and their latest victims were last year’s division two champions Mont Fleuri Dawgz, whom they defeated 61-44.

With skipper and playmaker Nigel Sinon scoring 20 points, including two treys, and helped in offence by swingman Cyril Agrippine (10 points including two 3-pointers) and Brian Morel (13 points), the Rockers gave quality playing time to all their players. 

Captain Reggie Ah-kong and centre Jim Créa netted 10 points each for the Dawgz.

PLS Hawks 81 … Angels 72

With both teams playing a running game, PLS Hawks, with Jefferson Nganga back in their ranks, won the first three quarters on the way to an 81-72 victory – their third of the season.

With four players – Christopher Camille (17 points), Neddy ‘Oye’ Fanchette (14), Rodney Lozé (13) and Nganga (10) – scoring in double digits, the Hawks were outscored 22-13 in the fourth quarter as Angels’ Kieren Agathine netted 10 of his game-high 23 points.

Daniel Dodin was Anse Boileau-based Angels’ second best scorer with 19 points.

Cascade Bullets 66 … RC Dynamics 55

Dan Côme again paced the Bullets with a game-leading 27 points, including two 3-pointers, in a 66-55 win over RC Dynamics.
Captain Kenneth Sophie added 15 – nine of which came from 3-point range – to help coach Grégoire Scholastique’s team celebrate their second victory in four games.

Jean-Paul Desaubin and Wilby Domingue combined for 33 points in Dynamics’ loss.

Beau Vallon Heat 78 … Praslin Warriors 61

With a season-leading six buckets from downtown for 18 of his game-high 34 points, Marlon Marimba carried the Heat to their first win, stopping a three-game losing skid. Tony Barbé (11 points) and Yasser Ismaël (10) also scored in double figures for the Heat.

Jackson Auguste netted 25 points for the Warriors, who are yet to find their rhythm.

HotShots 96 … RA Sisters 29

Paced by Myra Solin with 21 points, defending women’s champions HotShots steamrollered RA Sisters 96-29 as they got balanced scoring with Jenita Toussaint netting 19 including five treys, Tina Agathine 19, Beguitta Fontaine 13 and Zerah Fontaine 10.
Malagasy Siory Rakotomoudimby led the Sisters in scoring with 13 points.

G. G.