The BVI Basketball Federation’s 2021 District League competition kicked off it’s playoff stage last weekend with teams from Districts 2, 4, 7 and 9 winning their first playoff games.
Competing on the opening night of Saturday September 11 was VG Bayside Blazers of the Ninth District, who defeated Filipinas by 18 points.
The Blazers entered the playoff undefeated and continued that winning streak in style, leading at the end of each quarter 19-9, 48-26, 73-54 to eventually win 92 to 74.
For the Blazers, Jolyon Wilson collected a double double, with a game high 22 points and 10 rebounds which also included 1 steal and 2 assists.
His teammate Stephano Paul also enjoyed a double double, as he registered on all stats, finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals and 2 assists.
For the Filipinas who also are from District 3, Louie Poblete enjoyed a team high 18 points while his colleague Delbert Samuel collected a double double which included 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Meanwhile, in the second men’s game of the night, A’S representing District 4 which saw 5 of their players getting into double figures, defeated District 5’s Skillful Ballers by 19 points, winning that game 94 to 75.
Jevon Demmings led for A’S with a game high 26 points, which included 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists, while his teammate Noel McKelly tallied 16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 steals and 3 assists.
Their colleagues Juan Richards, Shakeem Blackmoore and Asim Beazer all collected 14 points apiece.
Second set of play-off games
Fast forward to the second day of the men’s opening playoff on Sunday September 12.
In the first fixture, Mega Mix of the Second District came from behind after being down by three points at the half 46 to 49, to defeat Zone 6 of the Sixth District by 11 points to win 68-57.
Both Douron and Tavon Phillip of Mega Mix collected double doubles, with Douron copping a game high 22 points with 11 rebounds while Tavon finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
For Zone 6, Malachy Payne had a team high 17 points while his teammate Mikey Joseph collected 10 points.
In the final game of the night East Rockers 2.0 of District 7 after a rocky start, pulled of an impressive performance to defeat Guns of the First District by a massive 26-point margin.
The east trailed at the end of the first quarter 17-21 and bounced back to finished the half leading by 9 points, 52-43.
They carried that momentum which saw 5 of their players scoring in double figures and finished the third quarter leading 83-58, before comprehensively winning the game 103-77.
For the East, Dameon Ottley had team high 19 points with 8 rebounds while Drexton Gaton collected 15 points.
Teammates Makebo Fahie, Timron Nickie and Leslee Smith all finished with 12 points each.
For Guns, Ray Victor collected a double double in his team’s lost, with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
His teammates Kameron Young, Nathan France and D’Anndre Penn all collected 13 points apiece.
Junior games
Meanwhile in the junior games of the playoffs, on Saturday Zone 6 Bay Youths defeated 3 D’s Big Dogs by 7 points to win 90 to 83.
For the Zone Bay Youths, Kacy Channer had a team high 21 points while Kalique Maduro and Alonzo Baptise scored 18 and 16 points respectively.
For the Big Dogs, Kymal Poncho and Stephan Deleon both tallied double doubles, with Poncho recording a game high 24 points with 15 rebounds and Deleon 22 points with 10 rebounds.
The Sunday game saw Junior East Rockers defeating Junior Mega Mix 86-73, despite a solid effort from Mega Mix’s Vern Frett who collected a 40-point double double which included 10 rebounds, 9 steals and 2 assists.
For East Rockers, Zachary Luke collected am impressive double double with 23 points and 20 assists while his teammate Deshawn Doyley also impressed with 20 points and 17 rebounds.