MONTEGO BAY, St James — DEFENDING champions Hoopers will hope their hot run in the National Basketball League-West will carry over to this weekend when they take on Inner-city Avalanche in the second game of a double header at the Montego Bay Cricket Club on Saturday.

After a slow start, the Douglas Reid-coached Hoopers have won four straight games to take over the lead in the standings and will hope to extend their winning run.

Hoopers are in front with 10 points from six games, followed by Catherine Hall All-Stars on nine points from six game and Railway Tigers in third place with eight points also from six games.

Inner-city Avalanche and Granville Jaguars are tied in fourth place with seven points from five games.

Three of the five teams taking part in the competition will have two games each this weekend with games set for Saturday and Sunday.

Railway Tigers, Avalanche and Granville Jaguars will all play back to back games as the second of three rounds continue.

Hoopers first win of the season had come against Avalanche 76-66 and they will start favourites after two wins last weekend.

Avalanche will have their confidence up after holding Railway Tigers to a season low 34 points last weekend but will also understand that Hoopers present a tougher task.

Also on Saturday Jaguars who rebounded form a loss to beat Catherine Hall All-Stars by 16 points, will face Tigers in the first game.

Granville had beaten Tigers by nine points in the first round but this weekend the scores in the game could be closer as despite back to back losses Tigers are playing with much more confidence.

On Sunday, Jaguars and Avalanche will meet in the first game set for 5:30 pm followed by All-Stars and Tigers.