A sterling performance from Mark Richards who had a game-high 22 points along with 13 rebounds and two steals enabled Prospect Jammers to lift the East Bank Demerara 14th Annual Basketball championship with a 43-39 victory over Herstelling Magic at the Burnham Court last Sunday.
Richards’ effort not only netted his team $50,000 and a trophy donated by William Jeffrey Hollow Block Master and Concrete Products, but also guaranteed him the Most Valuable Player accolade for which he received a trophy donated by Neville Chung Auto Repairs and Spares who also donated the third place trophy won by Bagotstown.
Travis Foster tried desperately to keep his team in the game but his 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals along with Orel Webster’s 11 points, three rebounds and one steal were not good enough to give Herstelling Magic the magical come-back they needed to stop the Jammers and they settled for the runners-up prize valued at $25,000. In the third place playoff, Bagotstown defeated Barama 56-50 after the scores were locked at 26 at the halfway mark. Kwesi Roberts scored 12 points and had two steals and, along with Darren Thomas’ 10 points, 15 rebounds and M. Mickell’s 10 points and six rebounds, ensured that Barama, who were led by a game-high 24 points from Trevor Profitt, did not have a successful comeback.
The runners-up cash prize and trophy was donated by Patrick Khan of Industrial Supply and Services and Neville Chung Auto Repair and Spares respectively. Terry Paton and Rawle Bristol donated the third place trophy. There were other outstanding performers who were rewarded with trophies including Vivian Audler, who for the fourth successive year, won the most blocked shots award, Mc Doom (most discipline team), Trevor Smith (most steals) Clarence Blackman (most assists) and Jeremy Amos (best under-19 player).
The coordinators namely Gregory Horsham, Brian Mc Calmon and Wayne Francois thanked the sponsors for their heartfelt contribution and said they looked forward to working with the them in the future with the development of basketball on the East Bank of Demerara as the key. (Calvin Roberts)
