By JONATHAN BURROWS
Tribune Sports Reporter
jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) Panthers bounced back from their opening loss to level their best of five semi-final series against the Police Crimestoppers at one game apiece, while the Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) Shockwaves opened their series against the defending champions Nassau Flight Services (NFS) Ballers with a victory in the 2026 Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) second round of the playoffs.
The Panthers secured an 82-67 win over the Crimestoppers in game two, responding vengefully to Monday night’s 67-63 game one loss.
Panthers had outscored the Crimestoppers 41-30 to carry the lead into halftime.
The Crimestoppers never held a lead the entire game, with the Panthers maintaining their momentum through to the fourth, holding the Crimestoppers to just six points in the fourth to close out the victory.
Jeremy Neely led the Panthers with 26 points, providing a major contribution on the offensive end.
William Rigby added 20 points and 17 rebounds, while Roosevelt Whylly contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Panthers found the scoring support needed to level the series.
Ernest Saunders led the Crimestoppers with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Cameron Chery and Dion McPhee added 13 points apiece.
Star player Adam Johnson went zero for seven on field goal attempts as the Panthers held him to just three free throws. The result was a significant response from the Panthers, who had surrendered a nine-point half-time lead in Monday’s opening game before losing 67-63.
In that game, Whylly led all scorers with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Neely added 17 points. However, Police produced a balanced scoring effort, led by Sirmar Rolle’s 14 points, to take the early series advantage.
The Panthers have now restored parity and will look to carry their second-half performance into Friday’s game three, while Police will aim to rediscover the offensive production that helped them take game one.
SHOCKWAVES
OVERTURN BALLERS
The Shockwaves maintained momentum from a dominant start to defeat the defending champions Ballers 77-66 and take the early advantage in their semi-final series.
With a 24-8 lead in the first quarter to a 39-26 lead at halftime, the Shockwaves never looked back after finding their rhythm offensively early and continued to apply pressure. They produced 27 points in the third quarter before adding 26 in the fourth to complete the shutout and secure the 11-point win.
The victory gives the Shockwaves an important early advantage against the reigning champions, who captured their first BGDBA title last season after defeating the Police Crimestoppers in the championship series.
The Shockwaves entered the semi-finals after eliminating the Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOCs) Challengers two games to one in their best of three quarter-final series. Livingston Munnings led Shockwave scorers, recording 26 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Qyemah Gibson added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Robert Missick finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
For the Ballers, Kemsey Sylvestre led with 26 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Abel Joseph with 14 points, five rebounds and six steals.
Both semi-final series continue at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, with the Shockwaves and Ballers opening the night’s action at 7:30pm before the Crimestoppers and Panthers meet in game three of their series.