BELIZE #1 SPORTS PAGE

Tex Mar United stops San Felipe Barcelona 2-1 in Belize Bank Superleague 2^nd final

Independence, December 19, 2009

Tex Mar United survived to take the 2009 Belize Bank Superleague football championship finals to a Game 3 at the MCC garden on Sunday, after stopping San Felipe Barcelona 2-1 at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Saturday night.

Ashley Torres, Dion Burgess and Arnold Torres led the Tex Mar offensive, supported by midfielders Wilmer Garcia, Robert Muschamp and Gabriel Ramos, pressuring the visitors’ defensive line anchored by Hipolito Andrade, Cesar Rosales and Carlos Cawich and testing goalie Darrel Novelo.

The San Felipe squad for its part was in no mood to tolerate any Tex Mar resistance – they were there to take home the championship, and took the game to the Tex Mar boys from the getgo. Oscar Ascevedo and Kenny Witzil led San Felipe’s attacks, backed up Josue Flores, Christopher Hendricks, Jorge Ruano and Joel Padron at midfield, and it was all the Tex Mar defensive line of Bernard Linares, Wilhelm Coe, Kishane Pech and Brent White could do to keep the game to a scoreless draw up to the half time break.

The San Felipe defense goofed in giving up a penalty 8 minutes into the 2^nd half and Wilmer Garcia converted as Tex Mar took a 1-0 lead in the 53^rd minute. Christopher Hendricks had led the San Felipe comeback, tying the score at 2-2 in the first final, and now he led the charge on goal that caused Bernard Linares to body him off the ball, and again the referee ruled penalty. Hendricks converted with ease to tie the ball game at 1-1 in the 58^th minute.

San Felipe introduced Harvey Cruz and Damian Ku to beef up their offensive line as they strove for the game winner, while Luis Torres relieved Arnold Torres. Dion Burgess had been trying to score the winning goal but his first try was no challenge for San Felipe goalie Darrel Novelo, and he tried again when he connected with a corner kick for shot on goal, but again Novelo was up to the challenge. Burgess was finally lucky on his 3^rd try when he finished a play by Ashley Torres to blast the ball past Novelo into the back of the net in the 68^th minute.

The San Felipe boys tried to equalize again, but the Tex Mar defense hung tough to secure the win.

Belize Elementary girls win 2 in primary schools basketball – St Luke’s leads 4-0

Belize City, December 17, 2009

The Belize Elementary School girls won their 2^nd game in the Belize City primary schools basketball competition, while the undefeated St. Luke’s Methodist Primary School girls rule the competition with their 4^th win at the Belize City Center last Thursday.

On Tuesday, the St. John’s Primary School girls won 2-0 over the Queen Street Baptist School girls; Ashley Bailey scored the winning basket for St. John’s Primary.

The St. Martin de Porres School girls won their 3^rd game by default, when the St. Mary’s School girls were a no show for their scheduled game.

On Wednesday, the Belize Elementary School girls posted their 2^nd win 6-4 over the Holy Redeemer RC School girls. Balika Meighan top scored for Belize Elementary School with 3 points; while Shanice Neal and Courtney Duran scored 2 points each for Holy Redeemer School.

On Thursday, the St. Luke Methodist School girls posted their 4^th back to back to back win: 13-2 over the St. John’s Primary School girls. The top scorer for St. Luke Methodist School was Indira Cayetano with 5 points while Ashley Bailey scored 2 pts for St. John’s Primary School.

The Queen Street Baptist School girls picked up their 1^st win 8-0 over the St. Mary’s School girls; the top scorer for Queen Street Baptist School was Briana Belisle with 8 points.

Stella Maris & Caye Caulker boys rule primary schools basketball 4-0

Belize City, December 17, 2009

The Stella Maris School and Caye Caulker Government School boys rule the Belize City primary school basketball competition, each with 4 wins at the Belize City Center last week.

On Tuesday, the Caye Caulker School boys picked up their 3^rd win 19-16 over the St. Ignatius School boys. Allan Coc top scored for Caye Caulker School with 8 points while Sydney Bradley top scored for St. Ignatius School with 9 points.

The Trinity Methodist School boys posted their 2^nd win 24-6 over the Grace Primary School boys. Elwin Pollard top scored for Trinity Methodist School with 14 points while Julian Perriott led Grace Primary School with 4 points.

The St. Luke’s Methodist School boys outlasted the St. John Vianney RC School boys: 18-15. Chaves Garbutt and Shane Nolberto scored 6 points each for St. Luke’s Methodist School; while Tyrek Myvette led St. John Vianney School with 5 points.

The Holy Redeemer School boys won 23-16 over St. John’s Primary School. Jordan Usher top scored for Holy Redeemer School with 9 points, while Malik Francisco added 7 pts and Jover Lopez chipped in 3 pts. Akeem Forbes top scored for St. John’s Primary School with 11 points; while Dean Lewis and Shawn Philips each tossed in a bucket.

On Wednesday,         the Queen Street Baptist School burnt the All Saints’ School: 25-12. Jahron Myvett top scored for Queen Street Baptist School with 9 points while Rayvon Jones led All Saints’ School with 6 points.

The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene School boys picked up their 1^st win 29-17 over the St. Ignatius School boys. Ricardo Pavon top scored for Buttonwood Bay Nazarene School with 21 points while Keimar Nicholas led St. Ignatius School with 8 points.

The St. Martin de Porres School boys won 20-13 over the Queen Square Anglican School boys. Clency Lopez top scored for St. Martin De Porres School with 12 points while the top scorer for Queen Square School was Devaun Zuniga with 8 points.

The Stella Maris School boys posted their 4^th win 25-20 over the St. John’s Anglican Primary School boys. Jamal Cherrington top scored for Stella Maris School with 16 points; while the top scorer for St. John’s Primary School was Akeem Forbes with 10 points.

On Thursday, the St. Mary’s School boys won 21-14 over the Belize Elementary School boys. Steven Goff top scored for St. Mary’s School with 10 points while Zachary Usher top scored for Belize Elementary School with 9 points.

The Grace Primary School boys won 25-13 over the All Saints’ School boys. Rasheed Adolphus top scored for Grace Primary School with 14 points while Dedrick Ramclam led All Saints’ School with 6 points.

The Caye Caulker School boys posted their 4^th back to back to back win 32-28 over the Central Christian School. Charles Hinks top scored for Caye Caulker School with 10 points; while Anfernee Brooks top scored for Central Christian School with 17 points.

The St. Martin’s De Porres School boys posted their 3^rd win 30-9 over the Holy Redeemer School boys. Clency Lopez top scored for St. Martin de Porres School with 16 points while K’lon Augustus led Holy Redeemer School with 5 points.

Belize Chess Club holds Family Chess Day

Belize City, December 20, 2009

Fifteen young chess players from around the country came out winners when the Belize City Chess Club hosted a Family Chess Day in collaboration with the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation (BNYCF) at the St Joseph’s School in Belize City on Sunday.

In the 10 years and under age category, 9-year-old Ivan Pixabaj from Silk Grass village, Stann Creek district won 1st place, with 5 wins. Kareem Jenkins, 9, of the Cayo Chess Club, won 2^nd place with 4 wins. Justin Chacon, 10, took 3rd place with 3 wins, while Omar Pulido, 10 took 4^th place and Stephan R. won 5^th place.

In the 11-12 years age category, 12-year-old Ivor Pixabaj, from Silk Grass village, Stann Creek district won 1st place, with 5 wins. Belize City’s 11-year-old Dwayne Rodriguez won 2^nd place with 4 wins; while 12-year-old Dolores Sho of the Stann Creek district won 3^rd place with 4 wins. Jason Argueta of Belize City won 4^th place and Montel C. placed 5th with 3 wins.

In the 13 years and over age category, Alfred Awe of the Supreme Pawns Ecumenical Chess Club from the Stann Creek district won 1^st place with 5 wins. Belize City’s 16-year-old Juan Vernon took 2^nd place with 4 wins, while 13-year-old Christian Burns won 3^rd place, Javier Lisbey, 13, placed 4^th and 13-year-old Akeem Jenkins of the Cayo Chess Club took 5^th place.

The players who were eliminated in the early rounds entertained themselves painting and sculpting in clay with art materials provided by tournament organizers, and prizes were also awarded for the best paintings and best clay sculptures. Good sportsmanship awards were also presented in each age category.