The Shelburne Rebels handed the St. Mary’s Bay Academy Stingrays their first home loss.
The Rebels took down the host team 88-60 in senior boys’ basketball action in St. Bernard Friday night.
First quarter score was tied at 17 but sloppy play prevailed throughout the first half as both teams failed to get into the flow of the game.
Shelburne’s Kris Buchanan sparked the Rebel offence pouring in nine second-quarter points to take a 32-20 lead with five minutes to play in the frame.
The Stingrays took advantage of the Rebel’s aggressive play dropping in nine second-quarter points from the foul line to close the gap 32-28 at the buzzer.
The Rebels continued with tight defence creating turnover opportunities and Buchanan found the hoop for 10 points to give Shelburne a 51-39 lead in a chippy third quarter.
SMBA came within 10 in early minutes of the final frame but Buchanan’s 15 points stretched the Rebel lead and put the game out of reach for the Stingrays.
Although SMBA was shorthanded with seven players they dug deep to keep pace with the Rebels as they outscored the visitors 19-5 at the line.
Coach Brad Bright said he felt his team played well in spite of being shorthanded.
Mackenzie Ford led the Stingrays with 25 points and Shayne Clements netted 18.
Buchanan topped all scorers with 38 points and Doug Poole added 17 for the win.
The Stingrays stand at 10-3 for the season and are tied with the Rebels for first in the league.
SMBA will travel to Par-En-Bas on Jan. 9 for a 7 p.m. game and will host the Bridgetown Trojans in league action on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.
