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Pre-Independence Heroes: Coached by Reds Perreira, British Guiana drew B/ball Series with T&T’s Wales Cagers 1961
Statistician Charwayne Walker today tells us about British Guiana winning an International Basketball Series
Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira
against a Trinidad side in 1961 as we continue our look at the performances of our sporting teams prior, during and after the Independence period in May 1966.
Trinidad’s top division one club Wales Cagers toured British Guiana in 1961 and played five matches; three were against club teams Bristol Eagles, Dan River Panthers and Ravens. The other two matches were contested against the Joseph (Reds) Perreira coached national team led by Eldon ‘Rocking-Chair’ Vaughn.
The tourist opened their British Guiana campaign with a commanding 44 to 29 points victory against Eagles (B) at the Municipal Court now Burnham’s Court.
Nello Commissiong lit up the fans with a game high 18 pts, Hilton Piggott lent support with 14 pts. For Eagles (B) Compton Nicholson finished with 14 pts.
Buoyed by their opening performance, the boys from the land of soca trounced British Guiana 44 to 30 points in the International series opener in front of 200 fans at Queen’s College auditorium. Hilton Piggott led all scorers with 18 pts, Lionel Gomes 12 pts, Nello Commissiong 6 pts. Skipper Eldon Vaughn led British Guiana with 11 pts, Hewley Henry 9 pts and Godfrey St. Hill 8 pts.
Wales Cagers pipped local club Dan Rivers Panthers 42 to 40. Hilton Piggott again led all scorers with 18 pts, and Nello Commissiong 8 pts. For Dan River Panthers; John Petrie had 17 pts, Orson Forbes 11 pts and Brian Dummett 6 pts.
Ravens halted the Wales unbeaten run with an emphatic 38 to 31 pts victory at the Chinese Court Albert Street. For Ravens’ Godfrey ‘Chin’ St. Hill 8 pts, Eldon Vaughn 8 pts, Hewley Henry 8 pts and Hilton Piggott top scored again for Wales Cagers with 11 pts.
International series decider played at Chinese Court Club Albert Street. Joseph ‘Red’ Perreira’s boys blew out Wales Cagers 46 to 25 points. Brian ‘the Kid’ Dummett top scored with 11 pts, Skipper Eldon Vaughn 9 pts, Hewley Henry 6 pts and Ovid Jackson 5 pts. For Wales Cagers’ Lionel Gomes top scored with 9 pts and Des DeNobrega 6pts.
The 1961 British Guiana Basketball Team
Eldon ‘Rocking- Chair’ Vaughn – Captain
Hewley Henry
Binky Archer
Aubrey Watkins
Godfrey ‘Chin’ St. Hill
Brian ‘the Kid’ Dummett
Ovid ‘OJ’ Jackson
Rudolph ‘Speedy’ Franklyn
Carl Sylvester
Orson Forbes
Joseph Small
Compton Nicholson
Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira –Coach
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