BY PAUL A REID

Observer Writer

MONTEGO BAY, St James — MoBay Hoopers will be gunning for back-to-back wins in the Flow National Basketball League-West this afternoon when they take on Railway Lane Tigers in a second round game at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Hoopers are coming off a big 98-65 win over hapless Lucea Flames on Tuesday after a close loss to the red-hot Granville Jaguars on Sunday and will be seeking their second win of the season over Tigers.

Hoopers had beaten Tigers 72-53 in their first-round meeting, on the opening day of the competition, and based on form, should beat Tigers who are coming off a six-point (66-60) loss to defending champions All-Stars on Thursday.

In the first game of today’s double-header, Lucea Flames and Sav Hawks, who have combined for an 11-game winless run, will meet.

Sav had won their first meeting, while Lucea have lost all six games they have played this season so far.

On Thursday, All-Stars extended their points total to 15 from eight games, three more than Granville Jaguars who have won all six games and are in second place on 12 points, one more than Hoopers who are in third place on

11 points.

Two players, Jermaine Rerrie and Vaughn Corke, both scored double-doubles for Catherine Hall, while Goyan Malcolm top-scored for the winners with 16 points along with seven rebounds, three steals and five assists.

Rerrie scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals, while Corke scored 10 points along with 13 rebounds, eight steals and two assists.

Detroy Jewery had a game-high 19 points for Tigers, while Damion Smith scored 14 points and 10 rebounds.

On Tuesday, MoBay Hoopers scored their highest total of the season on Tuesday when they extended Lucea Flames’ winless streak to six games with a 98-65 scoreline.

Four players led by Omar Bell’s season-high 27 points, scored in double figures for Hoopers who were winning for the fourth time this season.

Flames, who were beaten by 50 points on Sunday by Catherine Hall, were let down by poor performances in the second and third quarters after being competitive for the first period and allowed Hoopers to get away.

Hoopers led by just four points (21-17) after the first quarter but then jumped out to a big 18-point lead at half time (42-24).

Hoopers kept up the pressure in the third quarter, which they won 30-19 to extend the lead to 29 points (72-43) going into the fourth quarter.

In addition to Bell’s 27 points, Dwayne Johns scored 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals and five assists; Marlon Comrie had a double-doubles with 10 points and 12 rebounds as well as four steals and two assists, while Rayan Bolt also scored 10 points, seven assists as well as three rebounds and three steals.

Cecil Cole scored 17 points to lead Lucea as well as six rebounds and two steals and two assists.

Cordel Gordon scored 15 points, while Mitchell McLean scored a season-high 11 points in only his second game.

Two more games will be played tomorrow as Tigers and Flames will meet in the first, while Jaguars and All-Stars will meet in what should be a competitive game.