Police Crimestoppers Edge Golden Eagles in Thrilling 81-78 Finish

Nassau, Bahamas — Dion McPhee scored a crucial putback with just 4.3 seconds remaining, leading the Police Crimestoppers to an 81-78 victory over the visiting John Brown University Golden Eagles men’s basketball team last night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

Despite the Golden Eagles’ week-long trip to The Bahamas, the Crimestoppers were determined to send them home without a win. McPhee finished the game with 15 points, including four in the final quarter, and expressed relief at coming through in the clutch. “I saw my big man (Richard Lowe) going down for a lay-up. I just stuck with it, got the offensive rebound, and put it back up to put my team ahead,” he said.

Garvin Clarke Jr. led the Crimestoppers with 18 points, earning the Most Valuable Player award. Lowe added 12 points while Adam Johnson contributed 11. Coach Vernon Stubbs credited the home court advantage and his team’s resilience for the win. “Defence wins the game and my guys were resilient. That was what won the game,” he stated.

For the Golden Eagles, Trae Getting was the leading scorer with 16 points, supported by teammates Carter Carbonell (14), LePra George (13), and Jack Ullom (10). Coach Jason Beschta mentioned the competitive nature of the match, expecting a tough battle. “After watching the earlier games and seeing so much talent on this island, we knew we would have to fight hard for this one,” he said.

The game started with Johnson blocking shots and Lowe scoring inside. Clarke Jr. found the basket early to help the Crimestoppers take the lead at the end of the first quarter. The Golden Eagles responded by hitting three-pointers, managing to tie the score at 36-36 during the second quarter but still trailed 48-47 at halftime.

In the third quarter, both teams battled closely, with the Golden Eagles managing a slight lead at 69-65 before entering the final period. The fourth quarter saw both teams exchanging the lead, culminating in McPhee’s decisive putback for the Crimestoppers.

Clarke Jr. then secured the win by converting a free throw, finalizing the score at 81-78. The Crimestoppers are looking forward to tightening up their gameplay in preparation for the upcoming government league.