Day two of the 2025 Paradise Jam saw two exciting college games, but the crowd came out for the local public high school exhibition game. The Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) Chicken Hawks and the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School (IEKHS) Dynamite Rays had the University of the Virgin Islands Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center packed on Saturday evening.
GAME 1 – Illinois St. 84 – UAB 83
The opening game of the second day of the 2025 Paradise Jam was an exciting affair between the Illinois State University Redbirds and the Blazers of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The game was nip and tuck, with both teams making timely shots. The game was tied at 80 with 30 seconds left on the clock. Illinois State’s Dalton Banks took the ball to the basket, where two UAB defenders challenged his shot. One successfully blocked the ball; however, the official called the foul to the dismay of many UAB fans. Banks made both foul shots, giving the Blazers an 82-80 lead. UAB responded when Alejandro Vasquez nailed a three-pointer, putting UAB up by one with just eleven seconds left on the clock. Johnny Kinziger of Illinois State then drove the ball to the basket, and the official called a foul on UAB’s Tyren Moore to the chagrin of every of the Redbird supporters. There were 5.6 seconds left in the game. Kinzinger calmly stepped up and sank both free throws, sealing the victory for the Redbirds of Illinois State University.
Kinziger and Chase Walker were Illinois State’s top performers, with 21 and 16 points, respectively. Vasquez scored 19 points for UAB, and Efrem Johnson scored 18. Yaxel Lendeborg added 14 points and seven assists for the Blazers.
GAME 2 – George Washington 83 – Louisiana 74
The Revolutionaries of George Washington earned their first win of the 2025 Paradise Jam with a nine-point victory over the Redbirds of Illinois State University. George Washington’s Jacoi Hutchinson, who has family that lives on St. Croix, could not duplicate his 19-point performance from the opening day of this tournament. Hutchinson found other ways to help his team by recording seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Dareen Buchanan Jr. and Trey Autry carried the offensive load for the Revolutionaries with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Mostap El Moutaouakkil paced the Ragin’ Cajuns with 19 points while collecting seven rebounds. Christian Wright helped out with 13 points for the University of Louisiana.
GAME 3 – Ivanna Eudora Kean High School 70 – Charlotte Amalie High School 57
This was the first time local high school teams participated in Paradise Jam. The Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center was packed with eager fans to see this prelude of the St. Thomas/St. John Interscholastic Athletic Association 2024-2025 Basketball Season. Both teams field very different line-ups from a season ago. The Rays lost most of their key players to graduation. Their biggest loss was Jayden Dixie, a dominant center, who moved to the States for his senior year. The Hawks also lost what would have been their star player as K’nard Calendar also relocated to Florida for his senior season.
The first half of the game was plagued with 28 turnovers, and both teams had a tough time shooting the ball. They settled down in the second half. In the third quarter, the Rays took control of the game, outscoring the Chicken Hawks 20 to 12. Te’Shawn Hill led the way for the Rays with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals. Teammate Chainye Toussaint dropped 12 points and snagged nine boards for IEKHS. CAHS’s Jaden Dowe did all he could to keep his team in the game, scoring a game-high 23 points. Kareem Turnquest added 13 for the Hawks.
The action continues on Sunday with winners of day one of the tournament. Longwood will play McNeese at 6:30 p.m. in the first game of the evening. Liberty will do battle with Kansas State in the 9:00 p.m. game. Games will be played at UVI’s Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center.
