Guyana played with pride and dignity at its last Central American Championship in 1975

The 1975 Guyana basketball team minus a few members.

Dear Editor,
The last time a male National Basketball team participated at the Central American tournament was 1975 in the Dominican Republic.
The national team led by Mike Brusche competed against opponents from Venezuela, host Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Bahamas and El Salvador. Although the ‘Land of Many Waters’ only defeated Haiti, they were highly competitive and displayed a never die attitude against all the other teams.
Guyana was the only team on show with two sets of brothers – skipper Mike Brusche and Clifton Brusche, Melroy and Merton Fitzalbert.
Please find below a summary of Guyana’s performance:
Versus Venezuela: Guyana 68 points; Venezuela 87 – Mike Brusche 20 points.
Versus Dominican Republic: Guyana 71; Dominican Republic 111 – Ronald Pickering 15 points, Mike Brusche 12 points.
Versus Haiti : Guyana 89 points; Haiti 78 points -Mike Brusche 22 points, Melroy Fitzalbert 20 points, Aubrey Chalmers 13 points.
Versus Puerto Rico: Guyana 53 points; Puerto Rico 120 points -Melroy Fitzalbert 12 points, Mike Brusche 10 points, Compton Hinds 10 points, Aubrey Chalmers 10 points.
Versus Suriname : Guyana 66 points; Suriname 91 points -Mike Brusche 14 points, Aubrey Chalmers 14 points, Melroy Fitzalbert 13 points.
Versus Bahamas : Guyana 64 points; Bahamas 106 Points – Melroy Fitzalbert 20 points, Merton Fitzalbert 10 points, Clifton Brusche 10 points, Mike Brusche 8 points.
Versus El Salvador : Guyana 66 points; El Salvador 88 points – Melroy Fitzalbert 13 points, Merton Fitzalbert 10 points, Mike Brusche 8 points, Aubrey Chalmers 7 points, Winston Joseph 7 points, Clifton Brusche 6 points.
The 1975 Central American Championship team was:
Mike Brusche – Captain – Eagles
Winston Joseph – Eagles
Aubrey Chalmers – Ravens
Phillip Daniels – Ravens
Melroy Fitzalbert – Royals
Clifton Brusche – Mackenzie
Merton Fitzalbert – Eagles
Keith Hinds – Royals
Brian Gonsalves – Eagles
James Devonish – Ravens
Ronald Pickering – Royals/GDF
Compton Hinds – Celtics
Eldon Vaughn – Coach
GUYANA proposed Hall of Fame
Charles ‘Torani’ Clements – Ravens
Mike Brusche – Eagles
Andrew Ifill – Colts United
Lorenzo Withrite – Colts United
Stanislaus Hadman – Eagles
Auric Tappin – Mackenzie Hawks
Leon Christian – Hi Flyers
Lugard Mohan – Ravens
Deryck ‘Bull’ Burnett – Dan River Panthers
Ken Corsbie – Ravens
Melroy Fitzalbert – Royals
Hewley Henry – Ravens
Others (Nominees) Mark Agard, Godfrey ‘Chin’ St Hill, Aubrey Chalmers, Sean Semple, Hewley Harry, Steven Nurse and Gordon Klaiber.
Charwayne Walker