T&T pulled off a come-from-behind 86-82 win over the Bahamas in the 20th edition of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships being staged in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Led by some clutch free throws shooting from Ian Curtis Young and Julius Ashby, T&T in their final Group A match, fought off the nerves and were able to hold on at the end to claim the four point win and their third straight victory of the tournament.
Young who had a team high 23 points, sank five of six free throws down the stretch, while Ashby, who scored 17, made four of four. Wilfred "Spongy" Benjamin who has had a good tournament so far also finished with17 points.
T&T who were behind for most of the match, came back from an 11-point deficit (35-46) at half-time, and tied the score at 71-71 on a Steven "Lighter" Lewis basket with just under five minutes to go in the fourth period.
Lewis, who scored only five points, gave his team their first lead at 73-71 with another basket. The lead would then change hands once more, before being tied 77-77. With 1.46 to go, Young nailed two free throws to give T&T the lead for the final time, 79-77. He would then make two more before Ashby got into the action sinking two pairs of free throws, as T&T held on for the win. The Twin Island men who shot 40 per cent from the field (31/77), out-rebounded their counterparts 34-29 while only committing seven turnovers. Kinte Hall Quentin had a game high 24 points for the Bahamas, while Alonzo Hinds had 21.
The win means T&T have won their group and will now play the second placed team of Group B, the British Virgin Islands, in the semifinal this evening.
On Wednesday evening the T&T team blew away their counterparts from Barbados 93-63, after opening up a 16-0 lead with just four minutes gone in the first quarter. Julius Ashby netted a game-high 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, while Wilfred Benjamin and Ian Curtis Young both had 17 points. Benjamin also ended with 17 rebounds, while Young sank four of seven threes, and dished out five assists. T&T out-rebounded Barbados 54-26, and committed just six turnovers, compared to 17 in their opening game against Jamaica.
CBC Results
Day Three
T&T 86 (Ian Curtis Young 23pts, Julius Ashby 17pts, 12 reb,Wilfred Benjamin 17pts, 8 reb.) vs Bahamas 82 (Kinte Hall Quentin 24pts, Alonzo Hinds 21pts)
Day Two
T&T 90 (Julius Ashby 22pts, Wilfred Benjamin 17, Ian Curtis Young 17) vs Barbados 63 (Zahir Addulsamad Motara16 pts).
