BABA Basketball Update: Lakers & Heat Streak Continuing; Fusionz Cavaliers Shine in Divisions

The Lakers Sports Club Legends and the CAM Smart Assurance Heat remain perfect in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) First and Second Division competitions after this week’s latest action.

With a 5-0 record, the Lakers have won big, having registered a total of 473 points so far in the Second Division season. That average of approximately 95 points per game is the highest in both league tournaments. This has largely been due to the efforts of veteran Zahir Motara, with three 30-point performances this season.

Motara is supported by a very experienced team of players – a core of veterans such as Derek Browne and Andre Boadu, with a sprinkling of talented youth. One of those younger players is Tyreke ‘Lanks’ Harewood, a genuine big man and a genuine problem in the paint for the defence. The Lakers are also amongst the teams that have played the least games, partly because of weather-affected games.

The Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers are also unbeaten in Second Division. This team too is held up by a veteran in the middle, Dwayne ‘Boo’ Kellman. With his guidance and composure in pressure situations, Station Hill has flourished with the rebound and run strategy.

That scheme has allowed them to beat most opponents down the floor, and accurate passing keeps the ball moving in halfcourt situations. Playing the fewest games in both competitions, Station Hill’s 4-0 still places them amongst the select few.

Looking confident and completely unphased in all of their fixtures are the Heat. Their 6-0 record, with a total of 517 points scored, shows that the Heat are looking not just to dominate the First Division competition but also to go on and earn promotion into the Co-Operators General Insurance BABA Premier League.

This side is predominantly made up of veterans, but well supported by the likes of Nicholas King, Stephenson Callender, Adrian Stuart, Ricardo Toussaint, Adrian Allman, and Jamar Headley.

The main challengers would be the league’s other perfect side, Kolij Lions (5-0), the KO champs. The youth of the team along with coach Iantham Alleyne makes them a significant threat to any plans the Heat may have.

While it can be said that the experience of the Heat trumps that of a rather inexperienced Kolij, the Lions have run other teams into the ground this season. The race amongst the top six teams of First Division is close, with a place in the playoffs at stake.

For the Second Division, the competition is even tighter, as only the top four will advance past the preliminary round robin stage.