The highly anticipated opening match of the best-of-three KFC National Basketball League Finals tipped off on Wednesday, June 24, at Beausejour Gymnasium, delivering a heart-stopping contest that left basketball fans on the edge of their seats. When the final buzzer sounded, the Bonne Terre Blazers walked away with a tense 62-59 win over the two-time defending champion Soufrière Kings, putting them one step away from lifting the coveted Ricky “Skecky” Estwick Trophy.
The Blazers got off to a fast start, stringing together a seven-point scoring run to close the first quarter with a 16-11 advantage. But the defending champions refused to cave, mounting a steady comeback in the second quarter that saw them grab a one-point lead (28-27) by halftime. Soufrière retained their narrow edge heading into the final frame, after Linzell Alcee sank a buzzer-beating layup to push the Kings up by two points. In the closing quarter, however, the Blazers shifted into high gear on the defensive end, putting together an 18-13 scoring run that secured them the narrow opening-series victory.
This historic upset marks the first time the Soufrière Kings have dropped a knockout playoff game since 2023—the same year the Blazers last claimed the national championship. The Kings, hailing from the island’s Sulphur City, had remained undefeated in finals matchups over the past two consecutive seasons, making Wednesday’s result all the more surprising.
The Louison brothers were the driving force behind the Blazers’ winning performance. Troy Louison turned in a standout all-around stat line, notching 19 points (including two three-pointers), 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals. His brother Andre followed close behind with 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Rounding out the Blazers’ top scorers was Lance Louis, who contributed 12 points, five assists and three steals. For the Kings, forward Jayzee Saltibus delivered an impressive rebounding performance, pulling down 20 boards and adding 13 points to the team’s total. Leading scorer Kimani Charles put up 16 points and four assists, while Clayton William added 11 points and seven rebounds. Alcee finished with 10 points, and playmaker Sydney Didier notched six points, seven assists and six steals despite struggling with shooting accuracy through the night.
Statistically, the two teams were nearly evenly matched: both finished the game with 43 total rebounds, 17 turnovers and 23 made field goals. The difference came down to on-court efficiency, with Troy Louison’s constant aggressive attacks on the interior opening up opportunities for the Blazers that ultimately spelled the difference.
The finals series will resume this Friday at the same Beausejour Gymnasium venue. The evening will open with a women’s exhibition game kicking off at 7:00 p.m., followed by the highly anticipated Game 2 between the Blazers and Kings at 8:30 p.m. The Kings will need a full regrouping to defend their title and force a deciding third game, while the Blazers will look to close out the series and claim the championship on Friday.