UVI St. Croix Campus Basketball Team

Chris Sealey |

ST. CROIX – Opening UVI St. Croix’s Student Government League’s basketball season, the university welcomed the VI National Guard basketball team, the Spartans, to an exhibition basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 11. In the end, the university claimed victory over the visitors, winning the game 46-38. Eddie Castillo topped score with 15 points and Chris Sealey pitched in with 11 points.

Senior forward Sealey started the game scoring the UVI team’s first 8 points.

“Chris came out the hole firing,” Castillo stated after the game.  “The team’s mindset early was to set the tone defensively which got the team going offensively.”

By the end of the first quarter Spartans were down by 8.

“I was definitely aware of players like Sealey and Castillo,” Coach Webster of the Spartans said. “I told my team to focus on those two players defensively.”

By halftime the score was tied at 26.

Webster started the second half with his team playing a half-court pressure defense.  The Spartans forced some turnovers early, but the great ball handling of senior point guard Amali Krigger helped UVI gain a lead.

“I felt we did well on the defensive end,” Krigger said, “when by playing pressure defense we forced turnovers, mainly because they were weak when it came to ball handling.”

UVI top performers Amali Krigger, Eddie Castillo and Chris Sealey

Student Government League and the New Season

UVI’s Albert A. Sheen campus on St. Croix is known for the sport of soccer, but this semester UVI’s Student Government Association will be hosting their second basketball intramural season of the school year.  This league consists of five teams made up of UVI students, staff and alumni. Up until playoffs, students officiated, which caused some controversy, but the SGA is not deterred.

“I’m just trying to bring something fun to the campus,” president of Sports Committee Sealey said.  “It’s not fair that St. Thomas campus gets to have all the fun.”

Last semester the league was run with zero funds. “With UVI’s money or not, we will run the league,” Sealey said. “We can do it.”

This time around SGA is well prepared, putting together a team of students willing to help and make this league an even bigger success than the last one.

The SGA UVI Basketball League will kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with last season’s champs HYG vs. Ritz Carlton, at 8 pm on the UVI outdoor court.  After this game there will be a performance by Mr. WAP-WAP, followed by the second game of the night, SIO vs. Benchwarmers. Games will be played every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night.

Enthusiastic team members have made this possible.

The League’s teams this season are:

Set it Off (SIO)

Arguably the best starting five in the league on paper, the talented backcourt is made up of Amali Krigger and Deshaun Garvey.

Skilled big man Charles Moorehead is the force on both offense and defense, while small forward and reigning defensive player of the year, Kareem Eugene, looks to come back from last season’s ankle injury.

“If I was healthy during the finals last year, we would have won,” Eugene said.

After acquiring one of Killa Squad’s top players Yanick Toure, SIO look like the favorites to win this season.

Humble Youths Grinding (HYG)

Last season’s champions, HYG return with a slightly different team but with the same nucleus.  Sixth man of the last season, Kyle Sealey will take on a bigger role as a starter this year.

Arguably the best point guard in the league and current leader in assist, Chris Sealey returns with more to prove than ever before.

New contributions like Riis Mota and Joshua Lyphe will help blocks leader Creg Brown on defense.

With the absence of injured all 1st team Jahdel Jules, players like finals MVP Meriano Jacobs, Tyrone Sackey and Mathu Muttidi well have to step up in order to win.

Ritz Carlton

Formally known as Sorry in Advance, this team’s reigning scoring champ Sammy Joseph and his team search for a win after not winning a single game last season.

Everette Henry and Khalid “Harden” Bailey join Ritz Carlton this season for a playoff push.

“I wasn’t there to help last season,” Andre Joseph said, “but I’m enrolled and ready to help Sammy and Ritz Carlton win this season.”

Team second leading scorer last year Jahriem Luke brings confidence and hope to his team.

Benchwarmers

The fans’ favorite, Benchwarmers, return with the same team as last season’s, with the exception of Krigger’s departure.  Pure scorer Christian Cruz will take a bigger role this season.

Look for high production play from freshman guard Raejae Joseph.

Killa Squad

With most of the Killa Squad team separated, one would think that they’d be a weaker team than last season.   Arguably the best player, Eddie Castillo will return to the league after missing all of last season.

Another new face to the league is combo guard Markie Perinon, who will make this team a powerhouse.

Franchise players Eachan Simon and Shakur Appleton return to action to round off the well-rounded Killa Squad.

Look for lots of action, St. Croix campus!