The 2015 V.I. Jaguars Basketball Team

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In a unique crosstown title matchup, Ponce Constancia won its fourth championship with a 42-39 decision over Ponce Lomas, as Sebastian  Lezcano hit a trio of threes to lead the way with 15 points. Fernando  Gonzalez topped Lomas with 14 points.

Marquette  Best toppled Robert Taylor in an all-Windy City third-place matchup and  Chi-Town NBN claimed the consolation championship. Longtime officer Moe  Reed had his name attached to the Friendship Tournament (won by BNB  Outlawz) and first-time participant Colombia, South America earned the  Friendship Sportsmanship Award.

The  V.I. Jaguars upset the solo Pirates from Chicago, 48-43, in their first international tournament game. The Pirates were last year's champions.  The Jaguars lost to Ponce Lomas of Puerto Rico, who advanced to the championship. The Jaguars lost the game, 40-32, and lost to ABB from  Puerto Rico, 63-59. In the seventh-place game, the Jaguars won the game with a 46-22 victory against Chicago Heights. Some of the younger players, such as Nekwante Sprauve and Khamani Olivacee, scored in the final game. Overall, team captain Jourdyn Rawlins scored 61 points and added 29 points, 20 steals, five blocked shots, and 13 assists in the tournament.

Shakeem Sackey had 30 points and six steals while  Jahsief Benjamin had 39 points, 22 rebounds, eight assists, and seven steals. Zayd Brannigan had 26 points, 23 rebounds, eight assists, and eight assists, and De'Shamoi Greaves had 38 points and eight steals. The  Tournament concludes today with the final games. Overall the VI Jaguars placed seventh at the tournament.  

The tournament featured teams from the US, Caribbean, and Columbia. Meanwhile, the Positive  Guidance Team from St. Croix did not advance to the international tournament but instead played in a consolation bracket.

The V.I. Jaguars won the 2015 Positive Guidance Tournament. The Jaguars won all five of its games. In game one, Jourdyn Rawlins scored 14 points, with 5 assists. His teammate, Jahsief Benjamin, scored 10 points. In the second game, Zayd Brannigan had 13 points and Jahsief Benjamin scored 8 points. By the third game, Jourdyn Rawlins scored 23 points, Jahsief Benjamin scored 9 points, and Jaalen Roberts scored 10 points. In game four, De'Shamoi Greaves had 16 points, with 6 steals. In the final game, Jahsheem Dawson had 18 points, Jah'Fari Samuel had 12 points, and Khamani Olivacce had seven points. 

The  Marquette Best Small Fry Basketball Team out of Chicago won the 2015  Small Fry Paradise Showdown. The team toppled Positive Guidance of St.  Croix 47-45 on Sunday morning to wrap up the title. Marquette Best’s  Nick Owens scored 14 points for best in the finals. Darryl Thornton and  Amir Matthew added eight points. Rayjon Ali scored 18 points, Kmani  Bruce had eight points for Positive Guidance. DeMarco Minor earned tournament MVP Honors for Marquette Best, which finished 4-0 at the tournament.

Ahijaa  Sweeney of Positive Guidance earned the Sportsmanship Award. The tournament was hosted by the Caribbean Rose and the V.I. Jaguars  Basketball Team. After the Jaguars lost to Positive Guidance on Friday,  the Jaguars obtained revenge on their V.I. counterparts on Sunday,  winning 37-17. Jahsief Benjamin scored 15 points. Jourdyn Rawlins scored  9 points. The Marquette Best defeated the Jaguars 40 - 34 in Saturday's featured game. Minors and Carion Weathers both scored 14 points each for Marquette Best.

In  Friday’s game, Positive Guidance won over the Jaguars  37-31. De’Shamoi Greaves scored 12 points for the Jaguars. Jahmai  Jones, for Positive Guidance, was the leading scorer with 13 points. Ali  Scored 13 points Saturday in a 53-32 win over Tortola.