ST JAMES, Jamaica – The competition for places in the semi-finals of the ISSA Western Conference Girls Open basketball is heading for a close finish as two points separate the second-place team from the fourth place after Friday’s round of matches.

Second-place Mt Alvernia High had their three-game winning run snapped after they were beaten by leaders Herbert Morrison Technical, who won their eighth straight with a 57-16 margin.

Third-place Holland High closed the gap to one point after a 30-15 win over fourth-place Irwin High, while William Knibb Memorial won their first game of the season beating Muschett High, who slipped to the foot of the tables.

Herbert Morrison leads with 16 points and is sure to top the tables, Mt Alvernia are next with 13 points, one more than Holland High -12, followed by Irwin High -11 points with William Knibb in fifth place on eight points with three games to go.

Muschett High are also on eight points but with two games to be played.

Dandreika Wittingham -21 points and Nejron Stephenson with 17 points – combined for 38 of Herbert Morrison’s 57 points – as they restricted Mt Alvernia High to single-digit scoring in all four quarters.

Moja Ricketts and Tiana Spence both scored six points for Mt Alvernia High.

William Knibb Memorial finally scored a win as they got the better of Trelawny neighbours Muschett High by five points with Allain Walters scoring 17 points and having six steals.

William Knibb led from the start and were ahead 8-4 after the first quarter, 14-8 at halftime and 20- 11 after the third quarter.

Holland High rebounded from their loss to Herbert Morrison to hold off Irwin High thanks to a game-high 15 points from Jemelia Hines and eight from Tessanne Nesbeth.