The Sacred Heart Auditorium erupted as the Cayo Western Ballers clinched the Mayan Cup Conference Championship in the most dramatic fashion possible. After 44 minutes of fierce basketball, it was Arik Nicholas’ last‑second putback with :06.3 remaining in overtime that delivered an 80–78 victory over the Belize City Thunderbolts. With the win, Cayo books its ticket to the Jaguar Cup Championship, where the best of the Mayan and Toucan Conferences collide for league supremacy.
Nicholas led the charge with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 threes, cementing his status as Cayo’s engine. He was flanked by D’von Campbell’s 23 points and 5 threes, and Jamell Harris’ do‑it‑all line of 10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. Across the floor, the Thunderbolts leaned on Matthew Young’s monstrous 18‑point, 23‑rebound double‑double, Glency Lopez’s 12 points and 10 assists, and Rasheed Reneau’s timely 8 points and 3 blocks to keep the game on a knife’s edge.
This wasn’t just a game—it was a championship prize fight, with the Ballers delivering the knockout blow to wear the Mayan crown.
The Thunderbolts opened behind Eyan René’s triple at 9:35 (0–3) and quick rim attacks from Lopez. Cayo countered immediately: Joel Montejo’s jumper at 9:31 (2–3), followed by Nicholas splitting free throws at 8:13 (3–3), then drilling his first three at 7:10 (6–7).
Campbell splashed his own triple at 6:20 (11–7) before Harris muscled in a driving finish. Young answered with second‑chance buckets, but Cayo closed the quarter with Young’s free throws at 1:39 to hold a narrow 20–19 lead.
The Thunderbolts leaned on Reneau and Michael Caseras (6 pts, 75% FG), but Nicholas stayed locked in, slashing for 2 at 8:03 (24–21) and throwing down a dunk at 2:01 (31–28). René’s three at 1:29 (31–31) tied things once again, before Young’s relentless offensive boards and Campbell’s late bucket (:04.9) secured a 34–31 halftime cushion for Cayo.
Harris opened with a turnaround jumper (36–31), Nicholas added another deep three at 5:00 (42–34), and Campbell buried one from beyond the arc at 4:42 (45–35). The Ballers looked ready to run away.
But the Thunderbolts refused to fold—Young’s offensive rebounding (14 OREBs in total) fueled a late push, capped by Reneau’s triple at :38.9 (50–46). Still, Carbajal (4 pts, 5 rebs) gave Cayo breathing room with a layup at :20 to close the quarter 52–46.
Reneau’s three at 9:21 (52–49) swung momentum, but Nicholas silenced the rally with a triple at 8:30 (55–49). Ciego’s lob dunk at 7:55 (57–49) sent the crowd into a frenzy. Yet Lopez’s playmaking and Young’s glass‑cleaning pulled the Thunder back, and René tied it at 70 with a coast‑to‑coast layup at :35.1.
With seconds left, Ciego attacked but was swatted by Young at :05.8. Regulation ended knotted at 70.
The Thunder struck first—Caseras and Lopez pushing it to 70–74. Ciego threw down a dunk at 4:03, then Nicholas converted a putback at 3:54 (72–74) and calmly hit free throws at 3:03 (73–74). Young continued his interior dominance, but Harris’ free throws and Campbell’s split leveled it at 76.
The final minute was pure chaos: René’s floater (:40.3, 76–78), Carbajal’s clutch free throws (:35.5, 78–76), and Reneau’s equalizer (:18.6, 78–78). Then came the dagger: Nicholas soared in for the decisive putback at :06.3, sealing the 80–78 win and the Mayan Cup crown.
Cayo Western Ballers: Arik Nicholas (28 pts, 13 reb), D’von Campbell (23 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast), Jamell Harris (10 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk), Joel Montejo (6 pts, 3 ast), Jamie Carbajal (4 pts, 5 reb).
Belize City Thunderbolts: Matthew Young (18 pts, 23 reb), Glency Lopez (12 pts, 10 ast), Alejandro Baptist (10 pts, 6 reb), Eyan René (10 pts, 2 threes), Rasheed Reneau (8 pts, 3 blk).
Cayo stands tall as Mayan Cup Champions, surviving a relentless Thunderbolts squad in a game destined for highlight reels. With their ticket now punched to the Jaguar Cup Championship, the Ballers proved they can handle adversity, lean on their stars, and deliver under pressure. The Thunderbolts leave with pride, showing they can trade blows with the very best—but tonight, the Mayan crown belongs to Cayo.
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