The Clive Tannis Hard Court was electric last weekend as the 24th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament delivered a thrilling slate of seven preliminary games across the Under-12 (U12), Second, and First Divisions on Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23. With the preliminary rounds officially concluded, the battle lines have been drawn for a highly anticipated postseason as the tournament heads into its semi-final and championship rounds this week.
The youth category kicked off Saturday’s action with a nail-biting encounter between the Seagulls and the Grinches. In a defensive battle, the Seagulls managed to edge out a narrow 2–1 victory, with Jayceon Hutchins single-handedly scoring both of his team’s points.
Building on Saturday’s momentum, the Seagulls returned to the court on Sunday to defeat the Falcons 12–9 in another hard-fought contest. Cavani Browne led the victorious Seagulls with 4 points, while the Falcons’ Kenolyi Ollivierre put up a valiant effort, leading all scorers in that matchup with 5 points. The consecutive wins capped off a flawless, undefeated weekend for Team Seagulls.
Meanwhile, the Grinches sought redemption on Sunday against the Ninjas but fell short, dropping their second straight game in a 13–6 defeat. Solomon Miller and Chase Kydd paced the Ninjas’ offense with 4 points each, while Zende Lorraine scored 4 points for the Grinches in a losing effort.
The ongoing U12 battles have added an intense layer of drama and unpredictability as the young athletes fight for a place in the finals. Youth and community development remained a core highlight off the court as well; the Bequia Basketball Association expressed its gratitude to corporate sponsors The Chappy House and the Grenadines Initiative for providing brand-new uniforms for both the Seagulls and the Grinches.
In the Second Division, the Golden Knights put on a masterclass, solidifying their spot at the top of the standings at the end of the first round. On Saturday, the Knights cruised to a commanding 65–43 victory over Apex Elite. Cassius Joseph of Union Island put on a spectacular individual showcase, dominating the paint to finish with an incredible 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Apex Elite’s captain Jomain Ollivierre led his squad with a strong all-around performance of 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. The Knights put the exclamation point on their victory in the final seconds of the game when Jontiel Burke hit a sensational three-pointer.
On Sunday, the Golden Knights showed no signs of slowing down, dispatching the Rising Stars 78–47. Omarion Frederick led the charge for the Knights with 17 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block. Despite the blowout, the Rising Stars’ Shaquille Primus delivered a standout individual performance, racking up 24 points, 8 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals.
With their undefeated weekend, the Golden Knights finished at the top of the Second Division, earning a direct ticket straight to the championship series. Meanwhile, Apex Elite and the Rising Stars must battle in the semi-finals to earn the second spot in the finals.
The First Division games provided the most dramatic moments of the weekend, particularly for the previously undefeated East Blazers, who suffered back-to-back defeats.
On Saturday night, the 2025 defending champions, the Court Kings, went head-to-head with the East Blazers in an intense, physical matchup. In a game where the margin swung from as little as 4 points to as many as 16, the Court Kings displayed remarkable poise under pressure to secure a hard-fought 73–69 upset. Camal Bess anchored the champions with 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The East Blazers’ Jermaine John was nearly unstoppable, exploding for an outstanding 31 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 steals. However, the Blazers’ chances evaporated in the fourth quarter when John fouled out, alongside teammates Kelan Edwards and Adonis Daniel.
Hoping to bounce back on Sunday, the East Blazers faced Smokin’ Aces in another thriller, but fell just short in a 61–58 loss. The East Blazers held a comfortable 30–25 lead at the half, but Smokin’ Aces mounted a fierce third-quarter comeback. In a tense, back-and-forth final quarter, Smokin’ Aces held their nerve to win by three. Elroy Joseph, a member of the Under-23 3×3 National Team, paced the Aces with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. For the East Blazers, Jermaine John delivered yet another spectacular, high-scoring performance, scoring an amazing 39 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals.
Despite the bruising weekend, the East Blazers’ overall record was enough to secure them a direct path to the First Division Finals. Smokin’ Aces and the Court Kings will face off in the semi-finals for the remaining spot in the championship.
The playoff matches are scheduled to begin this Wednesday, August 26, and Friday, August 28, at the Clive Tannis Hard Court.
Wednesday, August 26 (Semi-Finals):
- U12 Division (1st vs 4th): Grinches vs. Falcons
- U12 Division (2nd vs 3rd): Ninjas vs. Seagulls
- 2nd Division (2nd vs 3rd): Apex Elite vs. Rising Stars
Friday, August 28 (Semi-Finals & Cultural Events):
- Cultural Exchange (10:15 AM – 10:45 AM): A special, free-admission cultural event featuring two 3×3 games between eight select players from Bequia and eight players from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- U16 Division (2nd vs 3rd): Titans vs. Hornets
- 1st Division (2nd vs 3rd): Smokin’ Aces vs. Court Kings
Following the semi-finals, the highly anticipated Championship Finals will take place across Saturday and Sunday.
