The consensus number one ranked team in the country got more than they bargained for yesterday, from the public school based Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.
The Tabernacle Baptist Falcons only trailed at one point in the game, but somehow, they could never pull away from the pesky Marlins, as the 32nd Annual Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic moved into day three at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.
In the end, the Falcons prevailed 52-44, but it certainly didn't come easy.
Falcons' Head Coach Norris Bain didn't mince words at all, when describing the play of his top tier team.
"I think that is the worst demonstration of basketball that I have seen from us this year," said Bain yesterday. "When you have kids running up and down the court and you're not getting in the way and forcing them to hit jump shots, it's kind of disappointing. Even with the charges, we were horrible with taking charges. I think the kids got caught up in the moment. We have to go and fix that because it just doesn't look good. It was a win, but I wasn't happy with it at all."
Bain and the Falcons just arrived in the capital early Wednesday morning, and the well-established local coach said that might have aided in their "lackluster play". The six-time Hugh Campbell Champions will be off today, and will play the C.R. Walker Knights in their next game tomorrow afternoon. Bain feels that they will have to play much better against a Trevor Grant led team, that has traditionally been known to cause problems. Also, it is very likely that they will meet up with Doris Johnson again.
"Today, there were times when we played goods in spurts, and then all of a sudden we would do something totally out of character," said Bain. "From what I see, Doris Johnson is very athletic. They like to drive the ball, but I want to force them to hit jump shots. I believe that we are going to see them again, so we definitely have to fix our defense. Hopefully, by the next game, we'll get that fixed."
The Falcons were paced by Raheem Laing and Robert Joseph yesterday, both with 13 points. Rashad Russell added 10.
The Marlins got a game-high 14 points from Brandon Stubbs. Shanton Pratt contributed 12. They were right in the game, until the Falcons executed a 7-0 scoring run late, to pull away.
"I think that we lost focus a bit coming down to the end, but that happens sometimes. Next game, we'll pick it up," said Marlins' Head Coach Demykco Bowles. "We just have to take it one game at a time, and hope for the best. Overall, we played solid, but there were a few lapses that we had on defence. It was just a matter of miscommunication, and that allowed them to go on a lil run in the fourth and put the game away.
"I feel pretty confident with this team," added Bowles. "I think that once we stick to the basics, especially on the defensive side, then we'll be right there in the end. It's very likely that we'll meet Tabernacle again, and by then, we'll be ready for them."
The Falcons got the lead up to double digits a couple times yesterday, but the Marlins stayed within striking distance. They got off to a slow start, trailing 15-5 after the first quarter, but were down by just six, 24-18, at the break. The Marlins got even closer, 36-32, after three quarters, and really applied the pressure in the fourth, but the Falcons regained their composure late and executed down the stretch.
"With this tournament, on any given day, anybody could come out here and win, so we just need to come out and give it our best shot. Once we do that, we'll stand a chance," said Marlins' coach Bowles.
After winning their first game on Monday, the Marlins will now go into the loser's bracket and play an elimination contest on Friday morning. They could very well meet the Falcons again in the pool championship, on Saturday evening.
"Doris Johnson is a very explosive team," said Bain yesterday. "I didn't sleep well last night because I was very concerned about this game. When you haven't lost a game in The Bahamas all year, and then went to Tennessee and played so well, I was very concerned that our heads would be inflated.
"Also, traveling 6 a.m. this morning - I felt that combination of things was going to cause problems for us, and I was right. Hopefully with a day's rest, we will get it together."
Bain and the Falcons have lost one game to a local team this year, and a number of local analysts have them ranked as the top high school basketball team in the country.
Bain said that he isn't paying any attention to rankings though. His main focus is to have his team ranked as number one after the championship game on Monday night.
The Hugh Campbell championship game is set to start at 8 p.m. on Monday, and will be held at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.

Tuesday's late results
10 - R.M. Bailey 60, Anatol Rodgers 45
11 - Agape Christian 45, St. John's College 25
12 - C.I. Gibson 58, Queen's College 47

Wednesday's results
13 - St. George's 55, Central Eleuthera 29
14 - Tabernacle Baptist 52, Doris Johnson 44
15 - Abaco Central 57, Clement Howell 35
16 - Sunland Baptist 62, Harbour Island 30
17 - Eight Mile Rock 53, Blazer Elite 39
18 - C.C. Sweeting 62, Jack Hayward 38
19 - C.R. Walker 45, North Andros 34
9 p.m. C.V. Bethel vs. South Andros (20) - late

Thursday's games
12 p.m. Aquinas College vs. Westminster (21)
1 p.m. Noble Preparatory vs. St. George's (22)
2 p.m. Acklins vs. Bishop Michael Eldon (23)
3 p.m. Clement Howell vs. Blazer Elite (24)
4 p.m. St. John's College vs. Harbour Island (25)

BREAK
5 p.m. Kingsway Academy vs. North Andros (26)
6 p.m. C.W. Saunders vs. Central Eleuthera (27)
7 p.m. Abaco Central vs. Eight Mile Rock (28)
8 p.m. Temple Christian vs. Loser Game 22 (29)
9 p.m. Anatol Rodgers vs. Winner Game 24 (30)

Friday's games
9 a.m. Agape Christian vs. Sunland Baptist (31)
10 a.m. Jack Hayward vs. Winner Game 27 (32)
11 a.m. Doris Johnson vs. Winner Game 23 (33)
12 p.m. Loser Game 28 vs. Winner Game 20 (34)

BREAK
2 p.m. Queen's College vs. Winner Game 25 (35)
3 p.m. C.C. Sweeting vs. Winner Game 22 (36)
4 p.m. Tabernacle Baptist vs. C.R. Walker (37)
5 p.m. R.M. Bailey vs. Winner Game 28 (38)

BREAK
7 p.m. Loser Game 31 vs. Winner Game 21 (39)
8 p.m. Winner Game 32 vs. Winner Game 29 (40)
9 p.m. Winner Game 33 vs. Winner Game 26 (41)

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