Southside host high-flying Spartans; Oilbirds look to settle the score against Police

Second-placed Southside Elite (6-1) will aim to keep pace with leaders Caledonia Clippers (7-1) as the inaugural season of the Electrical Industries Group (EIG) Elite Basketball League heads into its mid-season break, with a double-header at the Southern Regional Indoor Sport Arena in Pleasantville today, Friday, October 9.

The six-team league will observe a mid-season break and transfer window from October 10 to 20, with the much-anticipated All-Star Night set for the Maloney Indoor Sport Arena on October 18. Before then, three of the top four teams will be in action in Pleasantville tonight. In the opening game at 7.30 pm, Morvant Oilbirds (0-7) will continue their quest for a maiden win when they take on third-placed Police (4-3). Police edged the Oilbirds 83-82 in their first meeting in Pleasantville on September 25.

In the second game at 9 pm, Southside will face a spirited Spartans TT outfit, whose record now stands at 3-4 following a 101-82 win over the Oilbirds on Sunday. In their previous meeting, Southside pulled away for a 116-96 victory, with impressive performances from several players. Ahkeem “Fato” Boyd, Southside’s joint-leading scorer, hit a game-high 32 points, while Jovan George poured in 29. Centre Jelani Valley recorded a double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds, along with five steals.

For tonight’s clash, however, coach Garvin Warwick’s Spartans will be full of confidence after their weekend win. William Francis, who sits third in total scoring with 148 points and averages 21.1 points per game, put the league on notice when he torched the Oilbirds for 41 points on 13-for-26 shooting, draining six threes in the process. Francis was not the only standout in that victory. Guard Zachary Julien delivered a fine all-round performance with 16 points, five assists and six steals, taking his league-leading steals total to 26.

Coach Melissa Guerero and Southside will look to their sturdy defence, which ranks second in the league, conceding just 78.1 points per game. With Spartans boasting the league’s second-best scoring average at 87.1 points per game, the matchup promises a compelling finish to tonight’s action. Southside can score with the best of them, too. Their balanced offence sees Boyd and guard Jason Friday averaging 18.7 points each, while captain Tyrik Singh contributes 14.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Valley averages a double-double with 11.2 points and 10.5 rebounds.

With fourth-placed Spartans hot on their heels, coach Ronnell “Fig” Winter and Police will try to consolidate third place against an Oilbirds team still hunting its first win midway through the competition’s second round. Two weeks ago, Raymond Hospedales missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer against Police. The Oilbirds will hope for better fortune tonight as they seek to carry some momentum into the league break.

In Obel Guerra, the Morvant-based team has reason for hope. Guerra ranks second in total scoring with 172 points, averaging 24.6 per game. He also leads the league in blocks at 2.7 per game and is second in total rebounds with 81, an average of 11.6. The one-two punch of Guerra and national 3x3 player Tyrese Fields will be integral to the Oilbirds’ chances. Both scored 20 points in their first-round loss to Police, while Fields caught fire from deep against Spartans on Sunday, knocking down five three-pointers in the 101-82 defeat. Fields is tied for second in the league with 24 threes made.

Fans could be in for a low-scoring thriller between Police and the Oilbirds. The lawmen average 77.7 points per game, while their opponents have the league’s lowest scoring average at 75.7. Despite those team figures, both sides have players capable of taking over a game. Police’s Mikahail Williams scored 29 points, including six threes, in last month’s win over the Oilbirds and leads his team in scoring at 16.9 points per game. Veteran Fabrice Fisher averages 15.4 points and is coming off a 24-point outing in last Friday’s 112-89 loss to the Clippers. Sadiki Guerra is another threat for the lawmen. He is among the league’s top six three-point shooters and shares the single-game record of eight threes with the Clippers’ Ahkeel “Smally” Boyd, who matched the mark in Tacarigua on Sunday.

With the top four teams advancing to the Big Four semi-finals after three rounds of preliminary play, it is not yet do-or-die for the Oilbirds. But they will need to make winning a habit soon.