Bermuda U19 Basketballers To Travel To Canada

November 18, 2018

[Written by Patrick Bean]

Bermuda’s next crop of potential basketball stars are into preparation for a tour of Canada early next month when they travel to Brampton, Ontario — just outside Toronto — to play at the tenth edition of the Heart Lake Classic which features mostly high school teams at a Senior Varsity level, including the host institution Heart Lake SS.

It will mark the second time competing at the event for Bermuda’s U-19 squad and coach Kent Tacklyn spoke to higher expectations this time around, after getting an initial feel for the tournament their first time participating last year.

The 2017 edition of the Bermuda squad went 1-4, with coach Tacklyn noting how neither of the contests were decided my more than a few points as the local ballers too often faded late in those games.

“We went 1-4 last year but the record does not truly speak to how hard the team competed,” explained the coach, himself a one time force among the local leagues at both youth and senior levels. “We lost focus late in games and lost by some close scores.

“The goal this year is to go all the way. Wee have a younger really hungry crop that love the game … and their telling me that their will be no taking of prisoners, that they are going to make a stand, and stand on it.

“In reality we still have a bit of a way to go, but the enthusiasm is encouraging and bodes well for our success.”

The team has lost two players from last year due to college/university commitments, with Jorel Smith and Mical Hardtman both engaged in careers as student/athletes.

At the classic there is a double elimination format of play involving what is expected to be 10 teams this year after having used eight squads from the events inception in 2008 and guarantees all registered teams at least three matches before being eliminated for the tournament. The more a team wins the more matches the said team plays into the knock-out [single-elimination] round and consequent final.

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