BVI Basketball Association Summer League

Young Empire Jr. Advances with Strong Second-Half Performance Against Mt. Zion Stars Jr.

Young Empire Jr. delivered a strong playoff performance on Friday night, defeating Mt. Zion Stars Jr. 86-66 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex to move forward in the postseason.

The game was closely contested through the first half, with both teams trading baskets. Young Empire Jr. held a slim 17-15 advantage after the opening quarter, and the teams entered halftime separated by just two points, with Young Empire leading 38-36.

The turning point came in the second half as Young Empire Jr. pulled away behind a balanced offensive attack and relentless pressure on defense. They outscored Mt. Zion Stars Jr. 24-20 in the third quarter before exploding for 24 points in the final period while holding their opponents to just 10 points to secure the 20-point victory.

Justin Fergos led Young Empire Jr.'s offensive attack with 22 points, including two three-pointers, while Kyle Farrington added 20 points and six made free throws. Jadiel Matthew contributed a double-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Akiel Adonis also scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Young Empire Jr. received strong contributions across the lineup, outrebounding Mt. Zion Stars Jr. 58-30 and forcing turnovers with 14 steals. Their ability to control the glass and create second-chance opportunities proved to be a major factor in the victory.

Mt. Zion Stars Jr. was led by a tremendous individual performance from Zion Phillips, who scored a game-high 35 points while adding 15 rebounds and seven steals. Jonathan Duncan chipped in seven points, five assists and six steals, while Jehu Adams finished with eight points.

Despite Phillips' outstanding effort, Mt. Zion struggled to keep pace in the second half as Young Empire's depth and defensive intensity took over.

With the playoff victory, Young Empire Jr. advances after a complete team effort, while Mt. Zion Stars Jr. sees their postseason run come to an end following a hard-fought battle.