THE Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) kept alive their hopes for a place in the FLOW/National Basketball League (NBL) play-offs after scoring a 61-48 win over Selassie Gardens in their last preliminary-round game at the Stadium Courts on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Portmore Mega-Flames turned back Waterhouse Blazers, 55-49, but they are all but out of the play-offs.

The game was the JDF’s last in this round; however, the result pushed them to 21 points, the same as front-runners Tivoli Wizards, Majesty Gardens and St George’s Slayers, who all have a game outstanding.

Spanish Town Spartans, Urban Knights and St George’s Saints follow with 20 points each, but while Spartans and Saints have one game to play, Knights have two remaining.

In Tuesday’s feature game, Raymi Franklin with 14 points and Raymond Francis with 13 and 10 rebounds led the way for the soldiers.

Duraine Dean topscored for Selassie Gardens with 11 points and six rebounds.

The JDF led 12-10 after the first quarter and stretched their advantage to nine points (34-25) at half-time.

Selassie Gardens reduced the deficit to one point (41-40) at the end of the third period, but the JDF re-discovered their momentum in the fourth and went on to take the quarter, 20-8, for a 13-point victory.