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Hoyas Takes NBBA Finals Opener in Overtime

Guidance’s Kitwana Rhymer lays in a two-pointer, buyHoyas took the game.The Hoyas outscored Guidance 14-5 in overtime to take game one of the New Breed Basketball Association finals, 83-74.

Karl John, who played the entire game, was the man for the Hoyas down the stretch, scoring 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and in the overtime period.

“It is always good to take the first game of a series.” said Hoyas Coach, Sammie Lee. “I made some mistakes with the early substitutions and we had to battle from then, but that is what the Hoyas like to do, battle.”

The Guidance squad, who did not play their best game, had opportunities in the fourth quarter as they led by as many as five points. However, a potential game-winning free throw came up just short to send the game into overtime.

The fans that came to the Ronald Charles gymnasium Wednesday were treated to Virgin Islands championship basketball at it best as the two teams, who have won the previous two NBBA titles, hooked up in the 2011 finals. Guidance is going for back to back titles and the Hoyas going for their fifth title in six years. Together they put on a show for the local fans, many of whom were on their feet for most of the thrilling fourth period and all of overtime.

Guidance started the game on a 5-0 run only to see the Hoyas responded with a 22-7 run to take a 22-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Darnel “Burger” Hendrickson led the way for the Hoyas with nine points in the peiod.
Guidance got seven points apiece from Marcello Jacobs and Kitwana Rhymer in their 18-15 second quarter to trail by seven at the half, 37-30.

Led by AQ St. Hillare and Rhymer, Guidance surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Hoyas 23-13 to come all the way back from being down by as many as 15 points. They took a 53-50 lead heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was as physical as they come, with both team leaving it all on the floor. The Hoyas were clinging to a one point lead at 69-68 when a foul sent Guidance’s Shakeem Edwards to the line with a chance to tie or give his team the lead with 3.5 seconds left. He was short on the first but converted the second to send the game into overtime after the Hoyas missed a wild attempt.

In the overtime Karl John took charge on both ends of the floor. He disrupted the flow of the Guidance offense while netting six of his teams 14 overtime points as the Hoyas pulled away for 83-74 victory.

Burger had one of his best shooting games of the season to lead three Hoyas in double figures with 29 points. He got good support from point guard Eddie Castillo, who finished with 21 points, and John who finished with 19 points, ten rebound and six assists. Guidance was led by St. Hillare, who finished with 20 points. Rhymer had 17 points and 16 rebounds and Edwards who had 11 before fouling out.

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