John Gray High School’s Marlin Academy should feel secure in local basketball.
The yellow squad downed Triple C 28-11 in the boys division opener for the KPMG Under-14 Basketball League. The match took place at the University College of the Cayman Islands multipurpose hall last Thursday.
Leading the way for Marlin was Alex Thompson, 14. The born and raised George Town native, who lives in West Bay, was the top scorer with 10 points. A participant in the Appleby Under-19 Basketball League, Thompson states his side can excel in this competition.
“That wasn’t my best effort as I was sick and I had a blow to my knee,” Thompson said. “Next time I will come out with my best. We have a good chance to keep winning. We did really good and there is a good chemistry with this team.”
Aside from Thompson, a trio of players stood out. For Marlin, Alexandre Brown has size in his favour and mustered six points. Triple C’s Michael Dawes is another youngster with great potential but foul trouble limited him to six points. Josh Whittaker, son of flag football player Dionne Whittaker, did not make a big statistical impact but he figures to be a force with his athleticism.
Both teams are in action again this Thursday, 2 February, at UCCI. Marlin tackles fellow JGHS side Dolphin Academy at 3.15pm while Triple C, under head coach Ben Stoner, tangles with JG’s Wahoo Academy. For Marlin head coach Daniel Quinland, who starred in the U19 league alongside assistant coach and JG year 11 student Phillip Webb, this competition is about developing in the sport.
“I’m Marlin’s house captain and basketball is my passion,” said Quinland, 16, who is from George Town. “I asked to coach because I play basketball with these guys on a daily basis at school. We haven’t had practice yet and we don’t have experience. But we’re as good as our weakest link, we’re all supposed to play as a team with confidence.
“Against Triple C, we all worked together, everyone did their part and I’m proud of the team.”
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