Wizards, Majesty seal semi-final berths
SOUTHERN Conference champions Tivoli Wizards and title-contenders Majesty Gardens rolled into today’s best of three semi-finals of the NBL Powered by Flow National Play-offs after victories Tuesday night at the National Stadium.
The Wizards will contend with party-spoilers Manchester Pythons at 8:00 pm, after Majesty Gardens challenge defending champions Urban Knights at 6:00.
Majesty booked their place byoutpointing St George’s Slayers, 73-72, in overtime, while the Wizards cruised past the Jamaica Defence Force, 66-56, in a cautiously defensive game.
Needing to win by more than three points, the Slayers stormed to a first quarter lead of 17-8 and stood their ground with Dushane White and Michael Jackson in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 36-24.
The turnaround for Majesty came at the beginning of the third quarter with a 14-0 point burst, as the Marland Nattie-coached team took the lead for the first time at 38-36 and held firm at the end of the third quarter with narrow 44-43 edge.
The Slayers renewed their efforts in the fourth quarter and though they repeatedly sent Majesty players to the foul line to trail 55-50, White and Daley tied up the score 59-59 to send the game into overtime.
Majesty held their nerves, especially Ataina McLennon, to convert most of their free throws during overtime and in the end they rightfully marched into the semi-final with the consistent Baldon Todd finishing with 24 points, Kemar McLeish 15 points and nine rebounds, and Maurice Blackwood strong off the board with 11 rebounds (seven points).
Daley spearheaded the Slayers attack by scoring 17 points and adding 10 rebounds, with White contributing 15 points and Jackson 11.
Tivoli Wizards, meanwhile, maintained the upperhand over the Jamaica Defence Force with Omar Barnes owning 14 points, seven rebounds, and Anthony Farquharson playing second fiddle with 12 points, nine rebounds for the Southern Conference champions.
Raymond Francis netted a game-high 21 points, 10 rebounds for JDF, ahead of Denroy Barnaby, 15 points.
After tonight’s game one semi-finals, game two will take place on Saturday, December 5, also at the National Stadium Courts.
