Bruce Reynolds inherited a champion and could have caved under expectations. Instead, he rose to the occasion as a rookie coach.
Reynolds, 32, would guide the Home Gas Flames to their second consecutive national women’s basketball title this month. The squad would sweep the Dominos Lady Heels in the Cayman Islands Basketball Association 2012 women’s league.
Originally from West Bay, Reynolds states he was immune to pressure.
“Individually, they all had the weight on their shoulders to fulfil another championship,” Reynolds said. “The importance of this championship was the defence that was taught. No other team can do it defensively like our team. It puts wear and tear on the other team.
“Coming on to an existing champion, I had some pressure on me. But hard work pays off once you put in the effort.”
Home Gas eliminated the Lady Heels after victories of 66-52 in game one and 54-53 in game two at Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Centre. La-Torae Nixon, 15, was the star of the finals, capping off what figures to be another Most Valuable Player campaign by averaging 25.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, four steals and 4.5 blocks. She also had the series-clinching free-throw in game two.
Sade Wood was another key player with 27 points (including three three-pointers), 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals in game one. The Flames also got production from Gemma Graelis, who averaged 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Dominos meanwhile got stellar efforts from Dionne Anglin (who averaged 14.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in the series), Sarah Kidd (averaging 9.5 points, eight rebounds) and Hannah Parchment (averaging 9.5 points and four rebounds).
Reynolds states the game two win was a trying one.
“We came out flat-footed. My coaching style is aggressive and my philosophy is I don’t want to give chances for the other team to come back. It was very important for me to win. Whatever I try to do, I go to win.”
Reynolds took over as coach this year after West Bay native Ovaine Monteith led the Flames to glory in 2011. Like Monteith, the majority of Reynolds’ basketball career revolved around being a player. In recent years, he played in division one for teams like the Esso Blazers and division two, mostly for Future Sports Club, in the national men’s league. His shift towards coaching comes as his son Cameron Reynolds, 11, is following dad’s example and hitting the court in the youth ranks.
Reynolds states he never lost his competitive edge.
“I’m a competitive person, anything I do I want to win. Win or lose, I couldn’t sleep after games. I thank my wife for supporting me through it all, and I mean through it all.”
Home Gas are poised to be Cayman’s new basketball dynasty. Both championships have come at Dominos’ expense, after the Lady Heels won numerous titles this decade.
While Home Gas rest on their laurels in the off-season, Reynolds figures to be busy. He is currently involved in the PWC Under-16 league as head coach of the Comets in the girls division. He is also the assistant coach for the Shockwaves U16 boys team, which is battling for a playoff spot under head coach Jonathan Powery.
Reynolds states his rise to Flames head coach was a process.
“I am a certified International Basketball Federation level one coach and I’m assisting JP on the Shockwaves while coaching the Comets. In regards to the Flames, it wasn’t easy to start with as I’m a conservative person.
“Wendy Manzanares (who has effectively been assistant coach the last two seasons) approached me three months before the season. I said at first I’d think about it because I’m reserved and not one for the limelight. I would designate practice for Sundays but as the season went on, we got blown out.
“I increased it then to two days of practice and I pushed them. It was one and a half to two hours of practice. That’s what it takes to get to this moment; hard work. By the mid-point of the season and the semis, they appreciated it.”
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