Hawks and Spartans lead BABA First Division
THE Hawks and the Church Village Spartans are currently at the top of the North and South Zones in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Fist Division Competition.
The Hawks are in the top position, with a perfect 2-0 in their first two games. They are on the same amount of points as the Barbados Lumber Company Lakers, who also have 4 points and have started with two wins. The Hawks, however, have a better for and against ratio than the Lakers, have tallied 173 points in their two games and only given up 87 points. The Lakers have a strong team with a few new comers to the squad and have scored 152 points for the first two games and given up 112 points to the opponents. Kolij Lions Seniors are in third place in the north zone, with one win and one loss under their belts.
The only other team to play two games is the Urban Vybz St. John’s Sonics, who have lost both their opening games.
The Cougars have one win under their belt, but teams will be weary of this recently demoted Premier Division team which has in their ranks the formidable Adrian Stuart. Playing against Pan American International Insurance Warrens Sports Club B (Youth) today at Warrens, Cougars stand a good chance to either take over as #1, or move up to the second spot.
The Spartans have played well in both their opening games to start with two wins and zero losses with their ‘Big Three” strategy, where they play three big players in the key. Two of the bigs work in tandem, where one makes himself available at the free throw line and when he collects the ball, turns to face the ring, looking for his team mate cutting to the ring from the other post area. The third big waits patiently for the defence to react to the first two players, and usually gathers easy rebounds or has multiple simple putbacks.
Orange 3 Pinelands also have played two games with a one and one record, and sit in second place only due to other teams having a game in hand. Kolij Lions Juniors and ACS United both have lost their first two games, with Kolij scoring 86 points and giving up 102 points over the first two matches, while ACS had 83 and gave up 120.
The team to look out for in the southern zone will be Pan American International Insurance Warrens Sports Club A, who have only played one game, but have already amassed a point total of 98 points from that one game against the Challengers. Consisting of players such as former national players, Peter Alleyne and Kevin Austin, and also sharp shooter Zahir Motara, the fire power of Warrens is significant, and teams will have a hard time defending against such players.
Next to feel the pressure of playing Warrens will be the experienced Barbados Hilton Resort Warriors, who will face Warrens in Jackson on their home court in the second game of the evening. (AS)