SMBA takes lead in league play

The junior Stingrays basketball team from St. Mary’s Bay Academy took the lead in league play Wednesday night when they downed the Digby Mariners 53-31 on home court.

This year the league’s usual teams dropped to two as Clare and Islands were unable to field a junior team, leaving SMBA and Digby to fight for top spot.

The Mariners got the jump ball and scored on their first possession but the Stingrays took over from there scoring five unanswered baskets before the visitors could add a bucket of their own.

The Stingrays led 27-14 at the half and continued to build on their lead going on a 16-9 third quarter run.

The game’s one and only three-pointer came from the hands of Dustin Howard early in the fourth quarter and helped the Mariners keep the scoring close.

Jordan Cromwell scored 18 points for the Stingrays and JP Gaudet added 17. Brandon Melanson had nine points and Anthony Hakim netted eight for the Mariners.

“The teams played a much closer game tonight than their previous two matches in December.” said Mariners Coach Christy Kelly. “Going up against much stronger teams in the tournament last weekend helped the boys improve their game.”

Both teams meet again in Digby on Tuesday in a 5 p.m. match up for their second league game.