MONTEGO BAY, St James — Two-time defending champions and national title-holders Muschett High lost for the first time in two seasons when they went down, 25-30, to Spot Valley in their opening ISSA/KFC Western Conference basketball game at Montego Bay Cricket Club on Wednesday.

Loretta Gordon, the most valuable player in the Western Conference and in the National Play-offs last year and who transferred from Muschett to Spot Valley to attend sixth form, returned to haunt the school she led to so many victories with 26 points.

There were also wins for last year’s beaten finalists Herbert Morrison Technical and Montego Bay High against William Knibb and Holland High, respectively.

In the opening match, Gordon — who is also a member of the national team and is one of the top players on the Unique Ballers squad that made it to the finals of the JABBA female league — dominated as Spot Valley led from the start, 6-2, 14-12 and 22-21 at the intervals.

She also had eight rebounds and seven steals, while Kenniesha Irving scored 15 points and had 13 rebounds for Muschett. Nikita Clarke scored eight points.

Allisa Dawkins and Toni-Ann Reid had double digit scores for Herbert Morrison in their 35-27 win over William Knibb.

Dawkins scored 12 points and had three steals; Reid scored 11 points, and Princess Brown scored nine for Herbert Morrison as Khadeen Thompson led all scorers with 14 points for William Knibb.

Andrea Campbell scored seven points and had nine rebounds and Keila Henry scored two and pulled 14 rebounds.

Montego Bay High opened with a good 36-21 win over Holland, who were led by a game-high 19 points from Lanasha Smith.

It was close going in the first half where Montego Bay High led 6-3 and 13-11, but Rushane Porter helped the Montego Bay team extend their led in the third quarter as they ended 27-16 and were well on their way.

Olivia Beckford was the top scorer for Montego Bay High with 14 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals. Porter ended with 10 points, while Tashania Bent garnered eight points and eight rebounds.

The league will continue today with Spot Valley hosting Montego Bay and Muschett hosting Herbert Morrison.