Hoopers, Avalanche in mid-season rumble

Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:

A treat is in store for basketball fans in western Jamaica today as Hoopers and Inner-City Avalanche, the two top guns in the WBA/Lucozade Sports Men's Basketball Championship, will square-off in the competition's mid-season final at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts (MBCC).

"It is going to be a fun afternoon as prior to the mid-season finals at 6:30 p.m. we are going to have some novelty events for children, followed by an exhibition game between KLAS FM and WBA match officials," said the WBA's public relations officer, Deon Williams. "It should be excitement all the way."

Hoopers, the reigning WBA President's Cup champions and Hoopers, arguably the most exciting teams in the WBA, cemented their places in the mid-season finals last week Saturday night with impressive wins in theend of first round triple-header at MBCC.

Jaguars crushed

Hoopers crushed Granville Jaguars 91-71, while Inner-City Avalanche tamed Lane Tigers 66-47.

Hoopers won the first three quarters 16-12, 24-11, 27-22 before slowing down in the last quarter, which they lost 24-26. Andrae Morgan was the dominant player for Hoopers, getting a game-high 20 points. Morgan got good support from Neville Clair and Omar Taylor, who got 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Despite their loss, Wolfpack were not disgraced as Vaughn Lee with 14 points, Albert Munroe 11 points and Kevin Morrison, who pulled down 10 rebounds, all gave creditable performances. Inner-City Avalanche, known for their flamboyance, if not their on-court success, had Tigers on the run for most of the game as they won the first quarter 18-12, tied the second 10-10, won the third 16-15 and the fourth 22-10.

Cleon Morgan was the dominant player for Avalanche, sinking a game-high 22 points. Wayne Morris and Steven James also contributed well with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Tigers' top contributions came from Dave Black and Jermaine Rerrie, who got 15 and eight points, respectively.

In the third game of the night, which was of academic interest only, Granville Jaguars edged Sav Hawks 81-80 in a free-flowing game punctuated with several brilliant moments.