Ravens fall to GCB of Guadeloupe in Kreyol Basketball Festival Final

Ravens Basketball Club’s promising run in the Kreyol Basketball Festival concluded on Monday night with an 87-73 loss to GCB of Guadeloupe in the Northern Division championship game.

Despite a valiant effort and a strong tournament showing, the Guyana-based Ravens ultimately succumbed to the disciplined Guadeloupean squad.

Ravens kicked off their campaign two days earlier with a decisive victory over the DTread Blazers of Dominica, followed by another win against the USR Basketball Club, securing their spot in the final against GCB.

The championship game began with immediate intensity.

Ravens youngster Alroy Nurse was assessed two early fouls after an altercation with GCB captain Baptise, setting a tense tone.

Offensively, the Ravens’ intent was clear: push the ball and relentlessly attack the paint.

Defensively, Coach Rodrigues emphasised constant court awareness, imploring his team to keep eyes on the perpetually moving GCB players.

The officiating crew worked diligently to maintain control, but early fouls on starters from both teams proved particularly costly for the Ravens in the latter stages.

The first quarter ended with GCB holding a slim 29-26 lead, with Shamaar Huntley and Nicholai Smith leading the charge for the Ravens.

The second quarter saw the Ravens look dangerous. After trailing by three in the first, they adjusted their defensive strategy, effectively stifling the Guadeloupean offense.

Their relentless paint attack continued, spearheaded by shifty point guard Shamaar Huntley, whose nine-point contribution helped the Ravens outscore GCB 20-9 in the quarter.

Unfortunately, Huntley exited the game shortly after, sustaining a lower leg injury. Despite the setback, the Ravens headed into halftime with an 8-point cushion, leading 46-38.

The second half, however, belonged to the seasoned GCB squad. They executed their offensive sets clinically, easily overcoming the Ravens’ early lead and orchestrating a significant 15-point swing in their favor.

GCB capitalised on defensive lapses by the injury-plagued and foul-troubled Ravens, building a seven-point lead in the third quarter.

The timely return of Huntley to the game sparked a Ravens recovery, bringing them back within two points at 64-62 by the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter, GCB maintained their disciplined brand of basketball, while the Ravens struggled to find the right combinations to ignite their offense.

The Guadeloupeans executed flawlessly, embarking on a decisive run that extended their lead to as much as 15 points.

They outscored the Ravens 23-11 in the final quarter, sealing the 87-73 victory and securing their place in the ‘King of Kings Tournament’ in Guadeloupe later this August.

Shamaar Huntley led the Ravens with 23 points on 8-17 shooting from the field and 7-14 from the free-throw line.

Domonic Vincente and Nicholai Smith each contributed 11 points, while journeyman Ryan Gullen added an efficient 10 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, including two of four from three-point range.

Despite the championship loss, coach Marlon Rodrigues thanked his team for their professionalism on and off the court and expressed he is proud of their efforts throughout their tour of Dominica.

Their impressive 2-0 record in the Northern conference and strong overall showing put them in good standing for qualification in the King of Kings Tournament, with a spot typically awarded to the best runners-up in the conferences.