SEVENTH it is!
Barbados were made to work harder than they hoped for, rallying from a late eight-point deficit by scoring 13 unanswered points as part of an 18-5 fourth-quarter finish in a nervous 78-73 win over lightweights Bermuda at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships in Tortola.
It was the second time in as many days the ultramarine and gold terribly underestimated an opponent, with Suriname taking advantage of the Bajans’ nonchalance for Saturday’s historic 71-49 stunner.
And Barbados very nearly fell in another upset bid, having trailed 68-60 with 7:20 left in the seventh-place game following a flurry of treys from opposing guard Christopher Crumpler while guarding the pick-and-roll.
They held on this time though, even without injured captain Jeremy Gill playing in the second half, as the Bajan ballers rattled off a series of baskets including Akeem Marsh’s go-ahead dunk at the 4:37 mark.
Reserve forward Charles Vanderpool then added a couple free throws before making the contest a two-possession game (75-71) inside the final minute on a crucial midrange jumper.
Keefe Birkett finished with 21 points and Marsh added 20 points and 13 rebounds while Crumpler led all scorers with 27 points.
DRILLED! Bajan forward Akeem Marsh shooting this open jumper. (GP)
