Basketball: Newton and Hawks still number one
Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:00am
The Hawks will enter the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association First Division competition at the top of the Grant and Garnes Zone with 12 wins and 1 loss which entitles them to a first round bye in round 1 of the playoffs which started yesterday.
The Hawks rebounded from a demoralizing defeat at the hands of Roberts Royals Juniors to beat Pharmaceutical Plus Mayhill 69-44. The emphatic victory showed that the Hawks would indeed still be a significant contender for the league title. Sharp shooter Shaquan Newton who had a below par game against the Royals found his form again to finish with a game high 27 points inclusive of 6 three-pointers. Newton started the game on a mission with 2 of his 6 three’s to start the game on his way to scoring his team’s first 12 points of the game.
Newton was scoreless in the second quarter and Mayhill could have taken advantage of this but were unable to capitalize at all as they were still outscored 12-5 in the second period. Against a team like Hawks, not capitalizing on any chance given only ends in a deeper hole. The half-time score of 30-15 was indeed a deep hole from which Mayhill would never recover.
Newton came out of the halftime break refreshed and ready to cause more damage from beyond the arc. He exploded with three more baskets in the quarter on his way to adding 11 more points in the game. The Hawks rode this wave well and with the help of Damien Rodman and Tremaine Shaw who had 8 and 6 points respectively in the last quarter, finished off Mayhill completely.
Newton’s game high 27 was supported but Shaw with 13 and Omar Beckles with 10. Rodman finished with 8 and George Stanfield 7. Mayhill’s Cleo Hurley was also hot from three-point range with 3 baskets in his team high 19 points. Dave Young and Dave John both put up 9 points each while Justin Ramsay added 7. Mayhill played well this season but with two straight losses to end the season dashed the north teams hopes of making to playoffs and saw them finish one place short in seventh. (AS)