PHILIPSBURG—It was a Sucker Garden hat trick as the three neighbourhood teams cleaned up the Soualiga Youth Basketball Association competition at L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium yesterday.
In the Cadet Division the Junior Cats mauled Over the Bank Rug Rats 50-12, while the Mini Cats shot past Simple 26-12 and in the Junior Division the Wild Cats bested Betty's Estate Titans 55-49.
The Soualiga Youth Basketball Association competition features three divisions of play, including Minis 12 years and under, Cadets 13 to 15 years and Juniors 19 years and under.
In the first game, the Cadet Cats took a 9-3 first quarter lead and just raced to victory. The Cats led 24-8 at the half and playing tough defense in the third held the Rats scoreless to close the quarter 34-8. Jovannie Violenus and Josiah Arend led the winning effort with nine points each. Ricardo Generlotie had seven points for the Rats.
In the Mini Division, which plays two 10-minute periods, the Cats jumped out to a 12-10 half time lead before winning by 12. Rene Gonzales led the Cats with 12 points. Eric Smeins had seven points for Simple.
In the late game, the older Cats with an 0-2 record faced the 2-0 Titans. The Cats opened a 12-10 first quarter lead. Titans bounced back to go up 26-20 at the break. The game was knotted at 38 at the end of three before Cats won by six. Kevin Lake led the winning effort with 25 points. Xevern Labega had 13 points for the Titans.
Action continues this afternoon as Middle Region Saints tip off against Belvedere Bulls in the Cadet Division at 4:30pm. In the second game a Junior Division match up Down Street Clippers face Thunders of Dutch Quarter.
