James Dean scorches Stars for 36 in win

(By SHELDON LONGLEYNG Sports Reporter)In the biggest game of his high school career, James Dean turned in his best performance to lead the Prince William Falcons to a stunning upset last night at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium, capturing their first ever Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools basketball title.

Dean scored from inside and out, scorching the nets for a career high 36 points but most importantly he came through in the clutch with seven points in the final two minutes to lead the Falcons to the 77-71 win.

"It was a big game for us and we have to thank God for the victory. This is my last year in high school and I knew that if I didn't do it today, I would never get to do it," said Dean. "I knew their defence couldn't stop me and I just wanted to come out here and prove it.

"The whole team wanted it just as bad. The coach told me to take the game over and that's what I did. We wanted this more than anything in the world," he added.

The Falcons senior boys almost blew a double digit lead in the fourth quarter but Dean lifted them on his back and carried them to the title amidst an enthusiastic crowd last night.

For Falcons head coach, former NBA player, Dexter Cambridge the victory was as sweet as if he was playing himself.

"This is real sweet. I knew from day one that we had this team beat. We had the first game won and we gave it away. We kept our composure tonight and we came out victorious. We had a game plan and we executed all night," said Cambridge.

Contrary to game one when they started taking ill-advised shots allowing the Stars to come back from a big lead, led by Dean, the Falcons took the ball to the basket more especially in the closing minutes to deny the Stars their first senior boys title.

"James is a big time player and I told him in the locker room that big time players step up in big time games," said Falcons coach Cambridge.

On the defensive side, the Falcons surrounded Stars top player Portland 'Mitch' Bain by two or three players every time he touched the ball but Bain still poured in a side high 28 points.

His running mate Terrance Brown was nursing a sore ankle all game long and finished with just seven. David Fox had 12 for the Stars while Rithmond McKinney and Larnelle Johnson both added seven.

"We had an opportunity to control the game and we didn't play up to the level of Prince Will so let's give them credit for that," said Stars head coach Winston Symonette.

"I am never disappointed in my players especially if they give me what they have. I say give credit to coach Cambridge and Prince Will. They were the better team out there and they won and they deserve it."

Falcons captain Delano Coakley braved a twisted ankle and finished with 14 points while Giovanni Dean added nine.

"Delano has heart. He is a soldier. I call him a soldier. He is my MVP," stressed coach Cambridge.

The game was close throughout the first half with no team leading by more than six points. The Stars led by three points, 42-39, at the half but the Falcons came out with more intensity in the third quarter as they went on a 12-3 scoring run. The Falcons stretched their lead to 61-51 at the end of three.

They got up by 12 points in the fourth before the Stars started to mount a comeback. The Stars went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three points, 65-62, with 2:09 left but Dean answered the call as he completed a three-point play and then scored four more points to seal the win for the Falcons.

Captions

Staff Photos by Patrick Hanna

LOOSE BALL - Stars' Mitch Bain and Falcons Delano Coakley go after a loose ball in last night's decisive Game 3 of their BAISS senior boys championship game.

WE ARE THE CHAMPS - The Prince William Flacons take a break from celebrating to pose for a team photo after defeating the highly favoured Bahamas Academy Stars two games to one en route to winning their first ever BAISS senior boys basketball championship last night.

GOING AROUND - Prince WIlliam Falcons guard David McPhee illudes a Bahamas Academy Stars defender en route to the basket during the decesive Game 3 of the BAISS senior boys basketball championship Wednesday night at the Kendal Isaacs gym. The Falcons won the game and the title.