One of youth basketball’s biggest
competitions is in its second week and the defending boys champion has their
sights set on a repeat.
On Tuesday 2 November team
Shockwaves, sponsored this season by JML International, are in action against
Future Sports Club. Both sides are slated to play at 6pm in the Sir Vassell
Johnson Hall at the University College of the Cayman Islands. The match is part
of double-header for the Appleby Under-19 Basketball League, with game two at
7.30pm between the Wolves and Wesleyan Christian Academy.
Shockwaves head coach Jonathan
Powery states he believes his side can nab its second straight championship.
“We have the confidence to be
champs again,” Powery said. “We have the personnel and we have a lot of depth.
We had great training sessions this summer where the guys were learning a lot
and showing a lot of improvement. I’m confident we will repeat as champs.”
Powery, 20, earned another youth
basketball title last year. His Shockwaves took down Aaron Kennedy and the
Wolves in the final at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay. For Powery
the title is the latest in a string of successful campaigns that brought him
the 2008 U15 league title and props both outdoors (at the Cayman Islands
Basketball Association Court off Eastern Avenue) and indoors.
This season the Shockwaves were
slated to have its season opener against the Wolves back in Camana Bay last
Sunday. The West Bay native states the thought of going back to that venue
brings back all of the feelings from winning last year’s championship.
“It was a great feeling, it’s hard
to describe. The Wolves had the most fans so the noise of the crowd was tough.
What made me proud about that final was we kept the lead and showed maturity
even though Patrick (Barnes) was in foul trouble. The team really enjoyed that
and they’re hoping for a great season.”
The Shockwaves squad that takes the
floor on Tuesday will be drastically different from last year. Leading
play-makers Patrick Barnes and Brandon Glasgow are both gone with Barnes being
too old at age 19 while Glasgow is attending Santa Clarita Christian high
school in California this Fall. Also missing is point guard Khalil Mellad.
To counter those losses the
Shockwaves figure to rely on its new recruits. Rashaad Powery-Saunds and Keon
Bodden both played with Future in last year’s competition with Powery-Saunds
also suiting up for Future in this year’s division two segment of the national
men’s league. Powery-Saunds is one of the best emerging big men in the sport
while Bodden is a streaky shooter with the sort of touch that is reminiscent of
the Esso Blazers’ Morgan Bodden. Another big addition is Jordan Cacho, who
played for the Playmakers in 2009 and for the Shockwaves’ division two mens
team. Cacho is in the mold of Patrick Barnes and has the ability take over
games.
Future have some talent in their
own right with players like Kadane Hall and Jarrett Terry. However they will
have a tough time keeping the Shockwaves’ new addition in check while keeping
an eye out on returning threats Alex Ebanks and Diego Smith.
Aide from Future Powery has his
eyes on a number of teams in the competition. With talents like Jamaal Miller
running for the Reapers and Raheim Robinson starring for the Wolves a repeat
title will not be easy. There also a number of new clubs that will have to be
reckoned with such as Wesleyan (which won its season opener by 13 points) and
team John Gray high school.
In Powery’s eyes the Wolves
represent his biggest challenge out of all those sides.
“Our strongest competition will
probably be Wolves. They will be the team to watch. Bodden Town, in the form of
team Reapers, are coming into the league as a new club and they’ll be
interesting. But at the end of the day the Wolves have a great coach in Trini
(Duran Whittaker) so I’m looking out for them.”
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