Monday, 16 May 2011 – Road Town, Tortola: There were wins for Young Gunners, BVI Disciples and Mahasa Mega Mix, as the Kenny “Funny” Thomas 2011 Basketball League, powered by Digicel, got off to a thrilling start at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town on Saturday night.

A sizeable crowd witnessed a march past of teams from the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports building, where the winning teams from the 2010 League were presented with their awards.

Halstead Chiverton from 2010 Regular Season Senior Division and Snr. League Champions Mega Mix, picked up prizes for Most Points, Most Assists, Best #2 Guard, Most 3 Pointers and BVIBF MVP; Kelvin Samuel copped awards for Best Pt. Guard and Finals MVP Snr. Division; Douron Philip got the Edread Stoutt Award for Best PWR Forward and Verne Turnbull for Coach of the Year.

Young Gunners received the award for being the 2010 Regular Season Champs in the Jr. Division and Off Da Chainz in the Intermediate Division. Young Gunners were 2010 Jr. League Champs and Da Boyz claimed the Intermediate Championship title.

Shakiel Humphrey of Hawks was awarded MVP Jr. Division, while MVP in the Intermediate Division was Ephraim Gordon of Pure Playaz. In the finals, the MVP awards went to Shamal Caines of Young Gunners in the Jr. Division and Kenrik Thomas Jr. of Da Boyz in the Intermediate Division.

For the 2010 Wilbert “Shabunda” Fahie Basketball League, East was named Snr. Division Runner Up; Another Level was the Jr. Division Runner Up and Redder Than Red – Runner Up in the Intermediate Division.

In opening games over the weekend, there were nail-biting finishes in each of the three games on Saturday, with wins in the Junior Division for Young Gunners who narrowly defeated James Todman Another Level 73-71 and in the Senior Division, Mahasa Mega Mix maintaining its dominion over East 85/75. Shamoi Dagou of Young Gunners was named Player of the Game – Junior Division and Halstead Chiverton Jr. of Mega Mix Player of the Game for the Seniors.

In perhaps the most exciting of the match-ups, over 40’s teams – BVI Disciples and USVI Gunners - the Disciples edged out Gunners 42-40. The winner’s trophy was awarded to BVI Disciples; Most Points trophy to Disciples’ Glenroy Jennings; Most Assists trophy to Ashley “Feather” Warner and the trophy for Most Rebounds went to Roy “Toman” Henley of Gunners.

On Sunday, Hawks went under to Jr. East by 4 points (60-56), with Kishaun Fahie of Jr. East being named Player of the Game and in Game Two, Speed Zone lost to Against The Odds by the largest margin so far 19 points, with a final score of 80-61. Nathaniel Malone of Against The Odds was Player of the Game.

The Kenny “Funny” Thomas 2011 Basketball League, powered by Digicel, continues on Wednesday 18 May at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town. At 6:30pm, Fearless will play Fo Real and at 8pm, it’s Unity vs Rebels.

Ends…