Beausire stars as Stuart masterminds the victory

Guernsey 64, Jersey 51

GUERNSEY enjoyed a clean sweep in the inter-insulars for the first time in four years. All four home teams beat their Jersey counterparts in a turbo-charged atmosphere at Beau Sejour on Saturday.

After victories for the under-17s, under-21s and women, it was left to the senior men's side to make sure of the sweep and they did not disappoint the army of Guernsey fans who packed the stand and balcony in the Sir John Loveridge Hall.

It was an excellent all-round team performance by the men as they recorded a 64-51 win.

They had lost this match for the past three years and player-coach Jeff Stuart said he was delighted with his team's effort.

'I'm really happy. I think good teamwork won us this game,' he said.

'We are a really strong team from one right through to 12 and that's what we wanted to show, that we are a good strong unit.'

Guernsey, however, started the game quite slowly and allowed Jersey to race into a 9-2 lead in the first quarter.

'The positive thing about the start was that we were getting the ball into good positions, but the ball was just not dropping for us. But I knew that if we kept creating good shots for people, the ball would eventually go in.'

Man for man, the Guernsey squad appeared far stronger than their visitors and Stuart conceded that a lack of teamwork had cost his team dearly in previous years.

'We have always had a lot of strength individually but this is the first year we have pulled together as a team and that's why we beat them.

'The key for us was to be patient in offence and passionate in defence. That's what we have worked on and I think we did both of those things.'

He added that the team was looking in good shape for the Island Games in Rhodes.

'We have stuff to work on before then but we have identified our strengths and weaknesses and we want to show the top teams in Rhodes what Guernsey basketball is all about.'

Right from the tip-off Guernsey looked to move the ball around crisply in offence but found it difficult to make shots and Jersey, through eight first-quarter points from danger man Didzis Lauskis, started the stronger.

But the greens hit back towards the end of the quarter as they upped the tempo and began hitting the slower Jersey on the fast break. Jan Renouf's basket on the buzzer cut the score to 15-13 to Jersey.

James Tracy pulled Guernsey level with the opening shot of the second quarter and from then on the greens never looked back.

The 6ft 5in. Lauskis continued to be Jersey's main threat, despite having played the whole of the under-21 game straight before, and he helped Jersey stay in touch at the half-way mark, with Guernsey up 31-28.

Strong defence from both sides meant that neither team got into any sort of rhythm at the start of the third quarter. Guernsey then started to turn the screw.

A brilliant half court bounce pass from Jeff Stuart to Lee Ogier for the easy lay-in right on the buzzer at the end of the quarter got the Guernsey supporters on their feet and put the team up by nine going into the last period.

Guernsey increased their lead to 13 with five minutes left and then slowed the game down to run out winners.

Captain Nigel Govett had a strong game down low with 12 points and five rebounds but it was his fellow big-man, Mike Beausire, who walked away with the most valuable player trophy thanks to his 12 points and eight rebounds. Lauskis top scored for Jersey with 30 points.

'I was really surprised to win MVP because I didn't think there was a stand-out player,' said Beausire.

'I thought we played really well as a team. We have clicked really well and get on brilliantly on and off the court. I was happy with my performance. I felt relaxed before the game and really enjoyed it. I'm just really looking forward to Rhodes now and I think we are in with a good chance of getting a medal.'