Venezuela take down Bahamas in final seconds of battle in Group E action

NASSAU (Bahamas) – Venezuela won their first game of the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers when they defeated Bahamas in a back-and-forth battle, emerging victorious in a 86-81 win.

 

Through the first five minutes of the game the teams shared baskets back and forth, but it was Bahamas who took a significant lead thanks to the play of Buddy Hield, who already was in double-digit scoring after one quarter with 11 points, as well as the solid presence at the rim by Kai Jones who tallied 8 points.

Kentwan Smith also helped fuel Bahamas’ offense with 8 points including two three-point baskets, shooting 100 percent from the field through the first quarter.

A 29-21 lead for Bahamas ended the quarter after a late Venezuela resurgence thanks to 5 points each from Michael Carrera and Nestor Colemenares, and every time Bahamas would extend a double-digit lead, Venezuela found a way to not only cut the deficit but tie the game up.

By halftime Venezuela trailed but had cut the lead to seven, thanks to four points from Windi Graterol and at least eight players from Venezuela’s rotation scoring at least a basket through the quarter.

Hield was held scoreless through the quarter as Venezuela played tough defense and forced other Bahamas players to score, but Rashad Davis came off the bench to tip in four points to keep Bahamas ahead 42-35.

Coming out of the half Venezuela played their best quarter of basketball yet, outscoring Bahamas 24-18 and cutting the deficit to just one point as Garly Sojo had an 11-point quarter to give Venezuela another offensive threat while Bahamas’ Mychel Thompson has a second half revival scoring 7 points in the quarter.

As the game went into the final frame with Bahamas leading 60-59, Carrera and Graterol continued to carry Venezuela’s defensive load as they attempted to keep Bahamas at bay, using their deep bench rotation effectively as they outscored Bahamas 44-14 from their reserves.

With just under four minutes to play, Venezuela took their biggest lead of the game with six points, leading 78-72, after previously allowing Bahamas to go on a 7-0 run to cut the previous deficit from down five points.

Sharing baskets back and forth continued to the final seconds as Bahamas trailed by one point 82-81 with just seven seconds left to play, but Venezuela made shots at the foul line and a final buzzer basket to take a five point lead to close out the game.

Previously, Venezuela had only allowed 22.3 points in the paint per game, but Bahamas used their size and physicality to challenge Venezuela for 36 points in the paint, but Venezuela responded with 52 points of their own.

Mistakes plagued Bahamas in the second half which allowed Venezuela to score 20 points off of turnovers and while Venezuela were able to keep bringing in fresh and talented players from the bench, Bahamas could not keep up and as their top players played 25 or more minutes.

Four Venezuelan players had 11 or more points in the win and eight different players had five or more points in the win, while Bahamas had just two players outside of those in double-digit scoring tip in five or more points.

Carrera and Sojo both ended the night as Venezuela’s top scorers with 17 points, and Carrera added six rebounds that were all defensive in the win.

 

Jones was the difference for Bahamas despite the loss, recording a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds while Hield added 19 points.

 

FIBA