THE CRUMPTON STREET CURSE is finally over. But only just.
Nikolai Burton couldn’t have come any better, scoring ten of his 21 points down the stretch including a huge go-ahead trey with 31 seconds left as Harrison College won the United Insurance Schools’ Division One basketball title after edging Barbados Community College in Monday’s 57-55 thriller at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
It was the sort of heroics that will go down in Kolij folklore, having brought an end to almost two decades worth of futility for a side that routinely came up short against the champion Eyrie Eagles.
And they very nearly endured the latest in yet another long line of forgettable heartaches as Harrison College gave up a fourth quarter lead five times despite handily beating the defending champs in both regular season contests as part of a 13-game winning streak.
The writing even seemed on the wall when Antoine Morris found himself open for an uncontested layup that would’ve put BCC up 54-51 with 45 seconds remaining.
But the usually sure-footed forward travelled, leaving the door open for Burton, who made no mistake with the ensuing pass from Anand Joseph-Thorne by drilling the eventual game winning triple (54-52) from the left corner over an outstretched Morris.
BCC still had more than enough time to take lead again, however the Eagles ill-advisedly settled for a quick and errant trey from Stefan Taylor off the subsequent inbounds play that directly led to a transition basket for Runako Boyce at the other end.
Burton later added a free throw after the Eagles turned over the ball to effectively end the contest.
It proved the wild, and yet unlikely finish to what was expected to be a routine victory for a Kolij side that won their head-to-head matchups by an average of 18 points.
And they seemed to be following that script as Joel Hunte hit his first three looks from deep to start what looked to be the certain rout. But Hunte and his other backcourt mates needlessly settled for long jumpers while failing to put away a punch-less BCC side.
Harrison College actually never led by more six (24-18) in the first quarter and nine overall (37-28) despite keeping Morris and Ammuniki Wood in check for most of the evening.
However, Hunte was forced to the sideline with cramp in both legs, and Boyce quickly followed after picking up his fourth foul later in the third, resulting in a stirring BCC rally.
The Eagles eventually took their first lead with just over four minutes remaining after Morris’ coast to coast layup capped a 17-6 surge and put them ahead 45-43.
The two sides then traded leads like punches, with Kyle Hinkson sinking jumpers to answer every drive from Burton before Morris appeared to put BCC ahead for good with a long jumper and a subsequent layup opportunity in the final seconds.
Hunte finished with 15 points, Boyce added ten while Wood led the Eagles with 18 points. Morris and Hinkson both ended with 13 points.