When Team Bahamas needed it most, Kino Burrows’ veteran leadership took command of the game down the stretch and led The Bahamas to a home win in the latest round of FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers.
Burrows scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter of The Bahamas’ 83-79 win over Panama at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
The veteran forward shot 6-9 from the field and added five rebounds before he fouled out late in the fourth with The Bahamas leading by four.
David Nesbitt led three Bahamians in double figures with 14 points, Godfrey Rolle scored 10, JR Cadot scored nine while Livingston Munnings had nine points and a game high 11 rebounds,
Carlos Rodriguez and Josimar Ayarza both scored 18 to lead. Ernesto Oglivie scored 15, Trevor Gaskins scored 12 and Eric Romero added 10.
With the win, The Bahamas improves to 3-6 in the Group E standings.
Nesbit scored six of The Bahamas’ first nine points and The Bahamas led by as much as 10 in the first quarter before Panama rallied. A Gaskins three before the buzzer sounded made trimmed the deficit 24-23 at the end of one.
The second quarter featured four ties and five lead changes before The Bahamas pulled away with a final run before the half.
A Rodriguez three for Panana was answered by a Cornish runner to tie the game at 28, Munnings’ three point play was answered by another Rodriguez three to tie it at 31, then Nesbitt and Rodriguez traded threes for another tie at 34.
The Bahamas moved ahead for the rest of the half when Cadot’s three from the wing sparked an 11-0 run.
Spain tied the game at 55 on a Rodriguez three and eventually took their first lead of the game since the first period on a Romero layup.
Panama opened a five point advantage early in the fourth and seemed poised to pull away early, 70-65. Burrows ignited a stagnant Bahamian offense with an alley oop to Munnigs. It was the first field goal on a 10-0 run caped by Rolle’s steal in the backcourt and layup for a 75-70 Bahamas lead.
Panama was able to pull within a single point on two occasions in the final minutes, but Burrows scored on both possessions to give The Bahamas breathing room.
In a quick turnaround, the team completes the window when the host Argentina on November 13 at 7:15 pm.
