Belize Elite Basketball League: Benny’s Belize Hurricanes dump The Belize City Defenders 89-69, clinch 4th national championship

Published by [email protected] at August 10, 2024

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Posted: Saturday, August 10, 2024. 11:33 am CST.

Photo Credit: Benny’s Belize Hurricanes

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Benny’s Belize Hurricanes captured their fourth national basketball title on Friday night at the Belize City Civic Center overpowering The Belize City Defenders 89-69 in Game 5 of the Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL) Final Series.

This title was their second consecutive BEBL championship after previously winning the 2016 and 2018 national competitions when the BEBL went by the name National Elite Basketball League (NEBL).

While this year they had to go to five games in a controversial series, in July 2023 they claimed the title over the San Pedro Tiger Sharks in four games.

Victor Evans led the Hurricanes with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Amar Ross added 16 points, one rebound, and three assists. Sidibe Bourama scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out two assists. Marquise Cunningham chipped in 12 points, pulled five boards, and made two assists. Jamel Harris scored ten points, grabbed six rebounds, and made one assist.

As is the norm, the Belize City Defenders’ main man was Nigel Jones, the Regular Season MVP, who scored 25 points, pulled six rebounds, and made four assists. Daniel Estes scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and made two assists. Other than Jones and Estes, all the other Defenders were kept to under ten points. John Kelly accounted for seven points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Devin Daly scored six points, and made three rebounds and three assists.

The Hurricanes scored 35 of 77 field goals for a total of 45%. They made 24 of 53 two-pointers for 45%, 11 of 24 three-pointers for 45%, and free throws, they converted eight of ten for 80%.

The Defenders were not as effective, scoring 25 of 66 field goals for 37%. They netted 20 of 43 two-pointers for 46%, five of 23 three-pointers for a dismal 21%, and 14 of 26 free throws for 53%.

In rebounds, the Hurricanes were also tops, 49-39. They also outplayed the Defenders in assists, 21-15, in steals, 8-4, in blocks, they were tied 1-1, and in turnovers, the Hurricanes committed 13 while the Defenders lost the ball 14 times.

Looking at other statistics, the Hurricanes also dominated in points from turnovers, 17-13, in second chance points, 21-14, and bench points, 33-26. The Defenders were better in fast break points, 12-8.

The Hurricanes won Game One 87-63 but dropped the following two games 62-61 and 81-75. They even the series in Game 4, beating The Defenders 94-70. Game 3, which The Defenders had won 87-86, had to be replayed due to a time clock and removed-points controversy. Notably, the games the Hurricanes won were by wide margins as opposed to the tight scores when the Defenders won, including the original Game 3.

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