TODAY, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will not only play host to the second annual Kevin Lawrence Memorial Basketball Classic, but it will also see the return of the Linden/Georgetown rivalry; something that was missing for over a year in the sport of basketball. This evening will bring together 24 of the best players from the two towns who are known for their match-ups on the court.
However, this time around things would be rather intriguing since both the Linden and Georgetown basketball associations are now getting their respective offices back in order.
While Linden has already completed their league that was sponsored by Trophy Stall, their rivals had just recently restarted having competitive basketball in the Garden City and as such it will be interesting to see how the two sides match up.
Last year which was then the inaugural staging of the event, scores of persons who had turned up at the premier indoor facility saw Ravens eclipse their nemesis Pacesetters to lift the title.
This time the organisers – Ravens Basketball Club – thought it fit to be part of the process of bringing back the game of basketball to where it once was.
Both Linden and Georgetown sought to find a team that’s familiar with the warfare with the hosts using National players Ryan Guillen, Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai, Ryan Stephney, Royston Siland and Stephon Gillis.
Travis Burnett, Jaime Meyers, Kerwin Blades, Hodyah Stewart and Jason Squires are the other players that will make up the City team, coached by the experienced Robert ‘Bobby’ Cadogan.
National captain Steve Neils and CBC teammate Shane ‘Big Kane’ Webster will spearhead coach Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid’s team that includes the flashy Chris Williams, junior national point guard Marlon Pollydore, Orin ‘six-head’ Rose, Alister Webster, Quincy Jones, Trevor Profitt, Keon Cameron, Harold Adams, Kevin Joseph, Orlando Glasgow and Marvin Hartman.
It was revealed by the organisers that while it is known that all of the players were willing to play to show homage to Lawrence, they are also eager to get basketball and the rivalry back on track.
Darcel Harris, coach of the Ravens team said that the players are expected to put on a show for basketball fans and he is encouraging persons to come out and join his club and the basketball fraternity as they remember Lawrence.
The former St Stanislaus High School and University of Guyana student died on March 27, 2010 after being hospitalised from injuries sustained in an accident in Suriname.
He started his career with Globe Trotters basketball club and then left to join the nest of the Eagles Club where he developed into a lethal marksman from beyond the arc.
Before joining Ravens in 2005, Lawrence was a member of short-lived Emperor basketball club just after his successful stint with the Inter-Guiana Games basketball team that had won the title with Neils being the captain of that team.