MONTEGO BAY, St James — Manchester Pythons advanced to the semi-final of the Flow National Basketball League on Monday night after completing a 2-0 quarter-final win over Western champions Hoopers at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Despite a much-improved performance in front of their home crowd, Hoopers went down 67-62 on Monday for an aggregate 150-117 loss as the Manchester team joined Southern Conference champions Urban Knights as the early semi-finalists. 

The game was originally set for Sunday afternoon, but was postponed by a day as the venue was not available. 

But for a lopsided fourth quarter in Saturday’s first leg played in Mandeville, the series could have been much more competitive. 

Hoopers, who went into Monday’s game trailing by 28 points after losing 83-55 on Saturday and needing to push the tempo and set the pace, created a number of turnovers. 

On Saturday, Hoopers — who beat Catherine Hall All-Stars to win the western title — trailed by just nine points, 48-39, going into the final quarter, but then inexplicably gave up 35 points. 

Hoopers led by two points after the first quarter on Monday after trailing 8-11 with four minutes to go, but despite inspired defence midway the second quarter, trailed 28-31 at the half. 

Pythons increased the lead after the third quarter by six points, 44-38, and despite another run in the fourth quarter by the Montego Bay team, held on for the win. 

Urged on by their fans, Hoopers overcame the deficit to take the lead by a point, 58-57, with just under two minutes to go, but the Pythons regained the lead, 63-60, with a minute and five seconds to go. 

Damon Sullivan was the topscorer for Pythons with 19 points and eight rebounds; Nevije Walters had 16 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Christopher Harvey scored 12 points. 

Marlon Comrie with 15 points was the topscorer for Hoopers. Omar Bell came off the bench to score 10 points, including two three-pointers, while Nicholas Daye and Rayan Bolt each scored nine points.

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