Chiefs have high hopes

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Having just cemented a return to top-flight basketball following a 65-54 win in the National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs over the Innercity Avalanche on the weekend, the Brave Chiefs are already beginning to consider the challenges of the NBL and just what it will take to stay afloat.

"In the top flight, it's all about discipline and management and we have already assembled a team that has been first class for us in this regard," team coach Ludlow Barker told The Gleaner.

"The players need to be able to concentrate on just basketball, but with the committed talented core that we have, and a few key additions, maybe we cannot only stay there but shake up a couple of the big boys," he added.

Tied with the Avalanche on a 1-1 record headed into Sunday's winner-take-all encounter, Lascelles Johnson netted 22 points, while MVP Brian Grant had 21, to push the former champions back to the top flight.

The win saw the Chiefs join Southern Conference champions Selassie Gardens, who punched their ticket with an unblemished 3-0 record last weekend.

"It was a very pleasing victory for us, we started the season with that as our goal and the guys worked overtime to accomplish it," Barker said.

"There were a couple of hard losses and a couple of satisfying victories, it was a very memorable season," he added.

The Chiefs last took part in the top flight four seasons ago and have also previously won the Berger Paints division title, then basketball's top prize, on more than one occasion.

" I wanted to be able to take us back as a player and we were close on several occasions, but it just never happened. It is a great feeling to have been able to do so as a coach and I guess it worked out," he added.