Aug. 9, 2004
The Score International All Star Basketball teams completed their tour of the Dominican Republic this week with a clean sweep over the Dominican teams. The high school team and the college team both finished with 4-0 records. Incoming Lobo freshman Bambale Osby put on a solid performance during the four games, averaging over 7 points-per-game and second on the team with 12.0 rebounds-per-game and 1.0 blocks-per-game.
Game 1: Score International HS All Stars 82 – San Lazaro 79
The US all stars appeared to have a mismatch with a big height advantage over the San Lazaro club team in Santo Domingo, but when the game started it was apparent the San Lazaro team was not intimidated. San Lazaro took and early, 12-4, lead, but the US team fought back to lead, 21-20, at the end of the first quarter. It was still close at the half, with the US stars maintaining a 1-point lead, 37-36. San Lazaro continued to play well and actually led by 2 points, 59-57, at the end of the third quarter. However, a pair of free throws by Daryl Covington with only 4 seconds remaining sealed the win. Osby came away with seven points and 12 rebounds in the opening contest.
Game 2: Score International All Stars 93 vs. San Carlos 90
The second day began with the teams visiting an Orphanage in San Pedro, carrying a supply of food for the children and playing with them for several hours. Afterwards, the team left for Santo Domingo for the second tour stop with the San Carlos club team.
The San Carlos team also jumped out to an early lead, 11-4. Again the US stars responded, tying the score, 21-21, at the end of the first quarter. The US stars used a strong second quarter to build a 43-35 half time lead. San Carlos responded in the third, outscoring the US stars, 32-23, to take a 1-point lead, 67-66 at the end of the period. Osby had his best performance of the trip in the fourth quarter of the game. He had several key plays, leading the US stars to the, 93-90, win. Osby finished the game with 11 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks.
Game 3: Score International All Stars 71 vs. Mauricio Baez 63
The third day began with a trip to a rural village of Haitian refugees in San Pedro that worked in the sugar cane fields. Food was carried in and passed out to these villagers. There was also a basketball demonstration put on by the U.S. basketball players on an outside court.
The US stars game with Mauricio was a bit different in the beginning, in that Mauricio did not take an early lead. The US stars jumped out to a 19-16 lead after the first period, and increased their lead to 38-24 at half time. Mauricio mounted a comeback in the third quarter behind some strong defense. The US stars managed only 8 total points and Mauricio closed the lead to 46-40 after the third period. The US stars bounced back in the fourth to close out the, 71-63, win. Osby was once again a workhorse on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds while scoring two points.
Game 4: Score International All Stars 105 vs. Aborigen 71
The final game was played in the Sports Palace in Santo Domingo where the Pan American games were played last year.
The game began in a flurry with the US stars soaring out to a 33-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. The game was pretty much out of reach at that point, with the US stars extending their lead to, 59-36 at the half. With the game decided at the half, playing time was evenly distributed among the players for the rest of the game. Osby finished with eight points and nine rebounds as the US stars capped off a, 105-71, win in their final game.