TEAM TALK: Team Bahamas closed out FIBA Women's Centrobasket yesterday with a 68-65 victory over Guatemala. <\/p>\n
By RENALDO DORSETT <\/p>\n
Tribune Sports Reporter <\/p>\n
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net<\/a> <\/p>\n AFTER a disappointing showing with four consecutive losses, the Bahamas closed out the FIBA Women's Centrobasket 2017 with a win in their final game. <\/p>\n Leashja Grant delivered another dominant performance with 14 points and 21 rebounds in the Bahamas' 68-65 win over Guatemala yesterday at UVI Arena in St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. <\/p>\n Valerie Nesbitt finished with 12 points and five assists, Shalonda Neely added 10 points and six rebounds while team captain Phylicia Kelly chipped in with eight points. <\/p>\n The Bahamas had their best shooting game of the tournament at 40 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from three-point range while they also limited Guatemala to just 28 per cent. <\/p>\n Grant led the Bahamas' dominance on the boards, winning the rebounding advantage 60-36. They also scored 36 points in the paint, a 14-point edge over Guatemala while they also outscored them by 45 in bench points. <\/p>\n Neely scored the final four points for the Bahamas as they moved ahead in the game's final minute. Guatemala took the lead from the free throw line (65-64) with 1:56 left in regulation. <\/p>\n Neely grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the putback to give the Bahamas a 66-65 lead at the 1:10 mark and followed with the game's final score, a tip-in with 30 seconds left to play. <\/p>\n The Bahamas took an early lead in the first quarter, something that has been rare for the team throughout the tournament. <\/p>\n Tracey Lewis' runner with less than 30 seconds left to play gave the Bahamas a 17-8 lead headed into the second period. Guatemala opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 17 on an Alma Lopez layup. <\/p>\n Lashae Rolle's baseline jumper stemmed the tide and stopped the drought for the Bahamas. Guatemala would take their first lead of the game on a Krystha Cano layup, before Rolle tied it again with another jumper and Joette Fernander's jumper regained the lead for the Bahamas. They took a 25-24 lead into the half. Guatemala took control in the third quarter and took a four point lead into the final frame. The Bahamas had its top scoring period of the tournament when they outscored Guatemala 26-19 to close out the game. <\/p>\n Lopez led Guatemala with 20 points, Emily Rosales scored 16 and Sonia Vasquez scored 15. <\/p>\n The Bahamas opened the tournament with a closely contested hard fought loss to Mexico and went on to also drop decisions against Jamaica, the USVI and Puerto Rico. <\/p>\n The tournament featured The Bahamas, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. <\/p>\n After the 5-day tournament, the top three teams will qualify to the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2017, to be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from August 6-13. <\/p>\n The previous edition of the Women's Centrobasket Championship was played in Monterrey, Mexico, where Cuba captured the title with a perfect 5-0 record. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n More:<\/p>\n Bahamas Tops Guatemala 68-65 - Bahamas Tribune<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TEAM TALK: Team Bahamas closed out FIBA Women's Centrobasket yesterday with a 68-65 victory over Guatemala. By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net<\/a> AFTER a disappointing showing with four consecutive losses, the Bahamas closed out the FIBA Women's Centrobasket 2017 with a win in their final game Continue reading