Guyana boys suffer heartbreaking loss to Suriname at IGG basketball

…girls fall to French Guiana to finish tournament winless

Guyana’s boys’ basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 80-77 defeat to hosts Suriname at the Anthony Nesty Stadium last evening, bringing their campaign at the 2026 Inter Guiana Games (IGG) to a disappointing end.
In a fiercely contested encounter, the Guyanese boys appeared poised to secure their first victory of the tournament after establishing control early and carrying an eight-point advantage into halftime.
However, Suriname mounted a determined comeback before snatching the lead in the closing stages to condemn Guyana to a second consecutive defeat.
Having lost to French Guiana on Friday, Guyana entered the contest knowing that a strong response was needed against their regional rivals, who have competed in the basketball programme since the sport was introduced to the IGG in 1972.
Guyana made a promising start, edging the opening quarter 20-18 before stepping up their offensive production in the second period.

Tyreek Sampson led all scorers with a game-high 23 points, while Avion Kesney contributed 17, Josiah Cumberbatch added 15 and Stephan Duke chipped in with 14 as Guyana outscored the hosts 27-20 in the second quarter.
Their offensive efficiency allowed Guyana to establish a 47-38 halftime advantage, putting them in a strong position to challenge for victory.
However, Suriname gradually worked their way back into contention in the third quarter, capitalising on Duke’s foul trouble to apply greater pressure on the Guyanese defence and reduce the deficit.
Despite the hosts’ resurgence, Guyana managed to preserve a five-point cushion, taking a 66-61 lead into the final period.
The closing quarter, however, proved decisive. Guyana struggled to cope with Suriname’s defensive pressure, with turnovers and untidy possessions undermining their efforts to protect the lead.
Suriname seized the opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the game, moving ahead 72-71 and setting up a tense finish.
The drama peaked in the final seconds, with Guyana trailing 77-80 and taking possession with just 2.3 seconds remaining. The Guyanese needed a quick, clean possession to create an opportunity for a potential game-tying three-pointer.
Instead, a costly turnover ended their hopes before they could get a shot away, allowing Suriname to escape with a narrow three-point victory.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s girls also ended their basketball campaign on a disappointing note, going down 45-29 to French Guiana to record their second consecutive defeat.
The defeat completed a difficult tournament for the Guyanese players, with both teams picking up back-to-back losses.