MONTEGO BAY, St James — Former champions MoBay Hoopers and promoted Sav Hawks scored wins on Saturday as the Flow National Basketball League-West got underway with a double-header at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Hoopers caught a fast starting Railway Lane Tigers to win the first game 72-53 before Sav Hawks’ come-from-behind burst at the half-time mark to beat fellow newcomers Lucea Flames 65-58.

All six competing teams, including defending champions Catherine Hall All-Stars and pre-season favourites Granville Jaguars, took part in a dress parade that was part of the official opening ceremony that saw Ajani Williams, president of the Jamaica Basketball Association and Lloyd B Smith Member of Parliament for Central St James, addressing players and officials.

On the court, Tigers who just staved off relegation last season, got off to a good start and led Hoopers at the end of the first quarter but a game-high 22 points from Nicholas Watson who played for the relegated Inner-City Avalanche last season, steadied Hoopers as they took over mid-way the second quarter.

Watson, who also had 12 rebounds along with Rayan Bolt’s 13 points and Dwayne Johns’ nine points and 11 rebounds, took Hoopers from a one-point (15-16) deficit after the first quarter to a 12 points lead 35-23 at half-time.

Hoopers, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, saw their lead cut to eight points in the fourth quarter but had too much for Railway and ran out easy winners.

Detroy Jewery was the top scorer for Tigers with 11 points, while Tammy Davis who was ejected near the end after picking up a technical foul, scored nine points while Damion Smith and Jason Blake both scored seven points.

In the second game, Lucea Flames came out hot and led 15-10 and 29-23 at the end of the first two periods but the more experienced Hawks too, over in the third quarter where they outscored the Hanover club by 11 points (25-14) for a five-point buffer (48-43).

Terrence Tate scored 20 points and had five rebounds to lead Sav, Kenneth Blackwood had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Errol Smith scored 10 points and had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Julian Walker was Lucea’s top scorer with 15 points, Cecil Cole scored 14 points, had six rebounds and two steals while Sheldon Myrie had nine points and 10 rebounds.