All-Stars target Jaguars in NBL West
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Defending champions Catherine Hall All-Stars will have their final chance to beat Granville Jaguars in the regular season of the Flow National Basketball League-West when they meet in a third-round game at Montego Bay Cricket Club today at 6:30 pm.
Granville, who have won all 11 games played this season, scoring at least 100 points in four, including a 105-84 victory over Railway Lane Tigers on Saturday, won the previous two meetings, 63-57, and 65-63.
Catherine Hall, who beat Sav Hawks, 60-53, in a low-energy game on Sunday, were without the efficient Vaughn Corke in the last game and, at full strength, could be the first team to beat Granville as they look for a repeat clash in the finals.
Granville have secured a place in the finals with four games to go and are merely playing out the remainder of their schedule while awaiting the other qualifier.
Meanwhile, Catherine Hall and MoBay Hoopers kept up their race for a place in the finals with wins on Sunday.
Hoopers beat Lucea Flames, 67-43, to stay second in the points tables on 20 from 12 games, two behind leaders Granville Jaguars, who are perfect from 11 wins, while All-Stars handed Sav Hawks their 10th consecutive loss, 60-53, to be a point behind Hoopers with a game in hand.
Three teams will advance to the National Play-offs, but only the top two will compete for the Conference title.
On Sunday, a day after a heartbreaking one-point defeat, Sav were again competitive in the first half before being outscored, 44-19, over the final two quarters, despite Richard Chambers and Terrence Tate combining for 33 of their 53 points.
It took All-Stars almost four minutes to score their first points and they were down 0-5 before they were able to get on the scoresheet.
The teams battled on a slippery surface as All-stars led, 12-11, at the end of the first quarter before forging ahead midway the second. But a four-point play by Tate, who converted a free-throw after being fouled by Goyan Malcolm on a three-point attempt, pulled Hawks level at 18.
The All-Stars then opened up a 15-point 51-36 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Hawks drew to within six points midway the fourth, but failed to get closer.
Marvin Powell led All-Stars with 18 points, five rebounds and four steals; Jermaine Rerrie scored 11 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, and Vaughn Corke scored 11 points and had nine rebounds.
Chambers scored a game-high 19 points for Sav Hawks, along with nine rebounds and six steals.