Combined Schools Hoopsters still have title hopes

After losing the #1 Beauty Supplies and Beauty Exchange finals series 1-2 to Braddies Bar and ED Signs Pinelands, the Combined Schools Hoopsters still have a chance to win the Knockout title.

 

Pinelands forfeited their knockout game which puts the finals matchup between the Hoopsters and the Burger King Clapham Bulls. With the toughest team in the league stepping aside, Hoopsters will have a better chance of winning a title against the Bulls. It must be said however that the Bulls will be no walk over as they are a physical side with two great players in the ranks, namely Makela Walcott and Janiece Clarke.

 

The Hoopsters have being playing well throughout the season, with few losses and those were by narrow margins. During an interview with the media, Head Coach of the Hoopsters Denise Alleyne stated that they expected to reach the finals. After the preparation made and the good regular season they had, the school girls knew they could reach the final stage of the competition. Alleyne referenced the strategy of the team to reach the finals, which was to learn from the mistakes of every regular season game and go into the next game better than the last. She also expressed her confidence in the girls to be able to achieve a finals berth and that the finals was the biggest challenge so far for the season.

 

Pinelands was the top seeded team in the Women’s League and Alleyne thought that thought the girls played well, they did not play to their full potential. She alluded to the fact that the contribution on offense in Game 3 was none existent compared to Game 2 along with lacking on the defensive end. She said that they tried to shut down the shooters and limit the points which they compiled but more was needed but that would come from more experience. Another plan was to keep fresh legs on the court to keep the ball pushing at the Pine who had a smaller line up of 8 compared to the Hoopsters 12.

 

Unfortunately all the girls were not playing up to scratch on the final night but on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Barbados Community College Gymnasium, they will have a chance to redeem themselves as they chase another title. Ashlee Daniel will have to fire in each game she plays and the coaches will have to find ways to get her free when she is being locked down defensively. With Latifa Wood, Winmarie and Winmelecia Bowen in the paint backed up by Tower Lorde and Tatyana Walrond, the Bulls physical back line will surely have their hands full. (AS)