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Bermuda's men's select team was hardly challenged as they swept their way to the Summer Classic Basketball Tournament in Toronto.

The team went undefeated in the 5 team round-robin tournament. In the span of three days, they played four games they were able to defeat their four opponents by an average of 24 points. Their closest game was their final game on Sunday afternoon where they defeated Hopes are High 66- 56.

And they were able to do it without their best player, Sullivan Phillips. At the last minute, Phillips, Bermuda's only professional basketball player, was unable to make the trip.

But league Most Valuable Player Chris Crumpler stepped up and averaged 18.7 points per game for the tournament.

Crumpler was able to cart off the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

A Bermuda Basketball Association press release said: "Players who exceeded coaching expectations were Jonathan Minors and Jason Simons."

Assistant Coach Gavin MacKenzie indicated that despite the high margin point differential, the coaching staff was still able to use the games to evaluate some of the younger players who went on the trip and also allowed these players to gel with the more experienced members of the team.

Bermuda won the first game 78 to 41 with Crumpler scoring 18 points and Jason Lowe pulling down 12 rebounds.

The next game saw Bermuda beat FOTT 59 to 48 with Crumpler scoring 12 point and Jonathan Minors cleaning the glass for 13.

Bermuda then wiped the floor with New Generation Basketball, beating them 82 to 44. Crumpler was high man again for the team in putting 24 points on the board while Dean Jones had 13 rebounds.

Championship

Crumpler then was instrumental again for the team as they played Hopes Are High Basketball in the championships contest.

He scored 20 points while Jones again was a monster down low, grabbing 12 rebounds as Bermuda beat Hopes Are High 66 to 56.

The toutnament selected Crumpler as the Most Valuable Player for "his basketball I.Q., hustle, team spirit and pleasing perosnality."

Prior to the tournament, the Bermuda Basketball Association said the team would be using the tournament as the team begins its build-up for the Island Games in 2009.

Bermuda has always been one of the top teams in the Island Games and this victory will help keep that reputation.

The tournament was also giving players a chance to prove themselves ahead of the Island Games. Jason Simons is coming back from a torn ACL and looking to earn a regular spot on the national team.[[In-content Ad]]

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