Harks Were Here!(Part II)

Part I of the article presented on Harks' entry into the national league, the ensuing years, and one of their failed attempts to capture a championship. The article continues below.

So Close, But Yet So Far (Ctd): In 1991 Harks ended their penultimate season as runner-up in the League, having similar Win-Loss records as two other championship contenders (Cardinals, Hoyas). However, joint champions in basketball are a thing of the past, and so Harks had to settle for second place. They also placed 2nd in that year's Knockout competition.

Harks also played in at least one edition of DABA's Off-Season League, in 1984, against Blue Jays, Back Street Int., Cardinals, Reefers and Wizards in their zone.

Lack of Dedicated Coach: Edgar Robinson, a founding member of Harks blames the team's sometimes not-so-favourable performance on the lack of a dedicated coach. Their players who doubled up as coach were Augustus Harris, Emanuel Loblack, Henry Shillingford, and Edgar himself who coached the team full-time during their last few years after he retired from playing with that team.

For example, at the end of the first round of the 1985 League, Harks were 7th from 10 teams with 4 wins and 5 losses, scoring an aggregate of 540 Pts and conceding 579. The following year they placed 5th, but from seven teams, with a 6-8 Win-Loss record in the two-round league, scoring 952 points and conceding 928.

Reunion Year 1988 saw them in the middle of the final standings, at No. 5 from 9 teams with a 4-4 Win-Loss record, scoring 577 Pts and conceding 578. Then 1989 saw them still at 5th place, but this time from seven teams, and with only 2 wins but suffering 4 losses, scoring 442 Pts and conceding 409.

Burning Opponents' Baskets: Over Harks' 17 years competing, many a player high- or top-scored for the team and in a few instances a Harks player was even the overall highest scorer in individual matches. These players include – but may not be limited to - George Andrew, Ian Blanchard, Murphy Carlisle, Michael Casimir, Franklyn Charles, Ashworth Daniel, Edward Francis, Augustus Harris, Howards, Jefferson Jeremy, Lennox Jervier a.k.a. Lennox Xavier, Blaize Jones, Davis Joseph, Randolph Joseph, Sylvester Joseph.

This illustrious list continues with Emanuel Loblack, Vivian Lugay, Phillip McDougal, Russell Moreau, Lester Mitchel, Craig Nesty, Joseph Pierre, Herminus Reid, Donnie Robinson, Edgar Robinson, Tom Sage, Henry Shillingford, David Williams and R. Winston.

Others who played supporting roles to the high-scorers include Michael Augustine, Randy Defoe, Tony Dixon, Jerry Dorsette, Carlisle Green, Ron Green, Earl Gregoire, Jeff Lestrade, Franklyn Moses, Al Monelle, Albert Lawrence, Jonathan Prevost, Leslie Shillingford and several others.

Lester Mitchel placed second in aggregate scoring in the 1986 League with 316 points (22.57 ppg) from 14 matches in the two-round league.

Ashworth Daniel sinking a hefty 41 pts, was the overall highest scorer in Harks' match against Clouds in 1992; he also had a match-high 28 Pts vs Cardinals (1992). George Andrew in 1978 may have had the highest individual score for the season with 38 pts vs Pros.

The other all-time highest scorers for Harks were Donnie Robinson with 34 Pts vs Pros (1990), 28 Pts vs Owls (1990), a match-high 27 Pts vs Clouds (1990) and 26 Pts vs Clouds (1992); Craig Nesty had 31 Pts vs Owls (1990); schoolboy Lester Mitchel led the way for Harks with 33 Pts vs Owls in 1986, netted 31 against Lions in 1986, 26 Pts vs Wizards in 1986 and 28 vs Owls in 1986; while "Jeff" Jeremy led his team's offence against Lions in 1992 with 33 Pts and the 1991 Division I Knockout finals versus Wolverines with 26 Pts.

Further, Harks' Ian Blanchard and Joseph Pierre were two of the top scorers in the 1987 Division I League competition, with aggregate scores of 110 Pts and 104 Pts respectively, while in 1988 Lennox Jervier with 140 Pts and Davis Joseph with 130 were the 5th and 9th highest aggregate scorers in that year's Division I League.

Harks' Player and Team Awards & Accolades: Over the years a few players on Harks received individual awards while the team took a few 'runners-up' awards.

• Augustus Harris was awarded the 'Hustler Cup' for being the most outstanding defence player in 1978.

• Lester Mitchel was voted by the DABA as the Most Promising Young Player in 1982. Lester, who was a national player and also an SMA student and player, was awarded an athletic scholarship in 1987 to pursue his education and play basketball at a high school in Rushmore, Minnesota, USA.

Concludes next edition

Photo caption: SAG Toyota Harks, circa 1989. Photo courtesy "Robo"

(Standing L-R): Edgar Robinson, Donnie Robinson, Russell Moreau, Ashworth Daniel, Randy Defoe, Jeff Jeremy. (Stooping, L-R): Vivian Lugay, Murphy Carlisle, Earl Gregoire, Sylvester Joseph