– GT blowout Antigua 83 – 57 to win game three

By Rawle Toney
Playing in Guyana for the first time since 1988, the Antigua and Barbuda national basketball team, based on the results of the three matches played so far, will more than likely be given the ‘broom’ by Guyana when the four-match series culminate tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Having won the first game in Linden 76 – 42 and the second 73 – 56 at the Burnham Basketball Court, Guyana trounced the visitors 83 – 57 on Monday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to setup a historic match-up at the same venue.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd at the lone indoor basketball facility, it was not until their third quarter blitz did Guyana pull away from the Antiguans.

The two teams ended the first quarter tied at 16 points a-piece but Guyana held on to a one-point advantage at the half mark (29 – 28).

Guyana’s Jason Squires scored the bulk of his game high 18 points in the third quarter as Guyana outscored Antigua 31 – 11 in the penultimate period.

Harris’ backcourt basically won the game for Guyana with the team’s Head Coach exploiting the much slower Antigua and Barbuda guards and front court, especially on the transition.

Squires along with the versatile Travis ‘Blur’ Burnett (16 points), carried their team’s scoring while skipper Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai played the role of the facilitator, though finishing with 13 points of his own.

After their defence was made to look ineffective by the Guyanese point guards in the third stanza, Antigua and Barbuda started the fourth and final period on a good note with Kareem Meade leading his team’s charges.

Adisa Harris joined Meade in the visitors’ attempted claw back into the contest but, already down 21 points, owing such to Guyana’s explosive third quarter, Antigua and Barbuda would eventually be outscored once again 23 – 18 in the fourth quarter as the home side closed out the game 83 – 57.

Made was his team’s highest scorer with 15 points but none of his teammates scored double digits; Adisa Harris had nine points and Marcel Edwards and Dale Gore scored seven points each.

This is Antigua’s first Goodwill tour; their two previous visits were for participation in the then CARICOM Championships, which is known today as the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship.