WBA to discuss fracas
Caption for pic entitled “St JFA Div 2 finals -A”
Norwood Strikers’ Anthony Kerr (left) tries to hold off Kempshot’s Oraine Johnson in Thursday’s return leg of the St James FA Guardian Life Division 2 finals at Jarrett Park. Johnson scored twice as Kempshot won 4-3 for a 6-3 aggregate.
(Photo: Paul Reid)
Caption for pic entitled “St JFA Div 2 finals B”
Oraine Johnson of Kempshot FC (left) gets away from Danion Madourie of Norwood Strikers in Thursday’s return leg of the St James FA Guardian Life Division 2 finals at Jarrett Park. Johnson scored twice as Kempshot won 4-3 for a 6-3 aggregate.
(Photo: Paul Reid)
*************
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The executive of the Western Basketball Association (WBA) is to meet this weekend to discuss a fracas that forced a premature ending to Game Three of the Lucozade Division One finals at the Montego Bay Cricket Club two weeks ago.
This weekend’s meeting will plan a date and venue for a disciplinary meeting and the collection of statements from various sources, WBA president Donalda Reid told Observer West.
The game was called off with a minute and 28 seconds to go in the fourth quarter with Sav Hawks leading Hopewell Vipers by a healthy 67-43 margin and on their way to winning the series two games to one and the title.
Vipers’ player/coach Dwight Reid and several of his teammates are facing severe punishments after Reid walked off the court after fouling out, hurled abuses at referee Deon Williams and threw the contents of a bottle in the official’s face.
This sparked a fracas and the game was called off. Hawks were declared the winners after coming back from a loss in Games One.
The WBA has meanwhile condemned the action calling it “completely unacceptable” and said they would meet “to discuss all of the various aspects of this incident and decide on penalties for any or all involved.”
Hawks, who were relegated from the NBL-West last season, will return to the NBL-West for the 2011 season.
Hopewell had won the first game 61-53 but Hawks took Game Two 48-40 to set up the decisive game.
Before the disruption, the experienced Hawks played their best game of the series as guards Richard Chambers who had a game high 18 points and Kareem Hibbert who had 16 dominated their Vipers opponents.
Vipers were on the backfoot early as point guard Kirk Blake had four fouls by half time restricting his play in the second half while Reid had three fouls to his name the same as Hawks’ power forward Maurice Rodriques.
Blake eventually fouled out with four minutes to go in the game and Reid followed soon after by picking up his fourth foul. He then poked Sav’s George Beckford in the face for a technical and a disqualifying foul with the scores at 57-39 in favour of Hawks.
Hawks got off to a fast start, leading 13-6 after the first quarter but Vipers chipped away at the lead and drew level at 17-17 with 6 minutes 10 seconds to go in the second quarter, a run of 9-4.
That was as close as they came however as Hawks responded with a 5-0 run of their own to lead 22-17 with two minutes 46 seconds to go to the half-time break.
Sav led 30-25 at the half-time break and was up 46-33 entering the fourth quarter, comfortably on their way to the win.
Blake’s fouling out with four minutes to go dealt a massive blow to Vipers’ chances and Reid’s blunder 13 seconds later ended their resistance for good.
Later in the game as he led a walk-out of some of his team mates, Reid vented his anger at the officials and picked up two technical fouls.
In addition to Chambers and Hibbert who also had 11 rebounds and four steals, Dellon Hodges scored 16 points and had 16 rebounds for Sav while Rodriques scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds.
Christopher Bowen who attempted to continue playing after Reid’s walk out, led Vipers with 14 points, Gavin Forbes scored 10 points and had eight rebounds, Graville Smith scored eight points and had 11 rebounds while Reid scored just five points and had 12 rebounds.