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January 21, 2008
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ALL-STARS SECURE NBL BERTH
Six
months after dominating the Western Basketball
Association Lucozade Sport Men' Basketball Championship
and prevailing as champions. One month after walking
away with the Player of the Month, Finals MVP, Winning
Coach awards at the Annual League Awards Presentation,
the players which form Catherine Hall All-Stars have set
another major milestone - becoming just the second
western team to qualify to the glamorous National
Basketball League (NBL).
The National Basketball League is the biggest stage for
basketball in Jamaica where all the top club teams
across the island face off for big bucks along with the
Patrick Ewing trophy and the title of National
Champions.
Catherine Hall's run to the upper echelon was
challenging, as they toppled an injured riddled Sav
Hawks three weeks prior, who gave it all they had, but
finally relenting to their more superior rivals.
The Scorchers were not about to leave Mobay without
putting up a fight, though, and challenged the All-Stars
most of the night, but the 5-point win propelled
Catherine Hall to the NBL.
Thanks to 54 combined points between Jermaine Dillon
and Goyan Malcolm, the All-Stars held off a
determined Santa Cruz team to record a crucial 79-74 win
at Montego Bay Cricket Club court on Sunday night.
It was evident that this game would not have been a
walk-over affair for the home team as the visitors took
the ball game to them, 27-23 lead going into the second
quarter. Daniel Mowatt and Lennox Lewis
continued to pour on the pressure on Catherine Hall,
disrupting the home team's rhythm by half-time Scorchers
were out in front by six (43-37).
Ever confident, All-Stars had too much firepower in the
final two quarters and by the end of the third quarter
led the game 58-54 behind brilliant performances by both
Malcolm and Dillon with the latter
demanding much of the ball and dominating his defenders
inside the middle.
The fourth was just as similar to the previous with
All-Stars' turning up the heat on their visitors, out
scoring them 21-19 just enough to hold onto their slim
lead. It was enough to seal the victory in the end as
Dillon finished with game high 28 points on 14-of-21
shooting, while Malcolm scored 26 on 13-of-18.
Neville Christie supported with 12.
Scorchers looked determined for a good performance but
fell short, However, Mowatt led the way with 28
points. He received good support from Lewis (14
points) and Ricardo Brooks (13).
Congrats to Catherine Hall for a well-deserved win and
the title as Western Ambassadors. Go Make us proud.
By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.
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