![Scenes from the Guyana [white] and Grenada clash at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on the opening night of the Goodwill International Basketball Series](https://s1.stabroeknews.com/images/2019/12/grenada8.jpg)
Guyana national men’s basketball team drew first blood in their three-match Goodwill International Series, defeating Grenada on Friday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue.
The Guyanese prevailed by a 90-73 score line. Ray Victor, Guyana’s lone overseas based player, was the architect of the win with a monstrous 39 points. The next best scorers with 19 and 18 points respectively were Terron Welch and Travis Belgrave. For Grenada, James Andrew and Jonathan Williams scored 17 and 15 points respectively.
The match started positively for the 97th ranked Guyanese who raced to a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. Their advantage was extended in the second period, as Guyana recorded 31 points, while restricting the 117th ranked visitors to 20 points to lead 53-36 at the halftime period.
Grenada responded in the pivotal third period, outscoring the hosts 21-15 to reduce the deficit at 68-57 entering the final quarter. However Guyana would put the game to bed in the fourth period as they out-hustled Grenada 22-16. The event concludes today at the same venue from 20:00hrs. Up to press time, the second match in the series was underway.
The other members of Guyana’s playing roster are Akeem Crandon, Yonnick Tappin, Timothy Thompson, Dominic Vicente, Shaine Webster, Nikkoloi Smith, Marlon Chesney, Jamal Gilkes and Michael Turner. Meanwhile the members of the management team are Head Coach Junior Hercules, Assistant Coach and Manager Dennis Clarke and Physiotherapist Akeem Frazer.
