MONTEGO BAY, St James - Hanover clubs Hopewell Vipers and Central Flames continue to lead the Western Basketball Association's (WBA) Division One competition after winning their third game at the weekend.

On Sunday, Vipers beat Granville Wolfpack 67-54, a day after Flames overwhelmed Jnr Avalanche, 81-39 - both at Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Meanwhile, Sav Hawks maintained their perfect record after holding off the MoBay CC Knights, 71-65, in the second game on Sunday. Despite double-digit scores from Andre Uter and Warner Dowman, coming off the bench, Granville were overpowered by a better Hopewell team, losing their third game from four starts.

Vipers got off to a fast start and were up 18-8 after the first quarter and 31-25 at half-time. The Hanover team would lead by as many as 17 points, 54-37, late in the third before allowing Granville back in the game as Uter hit three three-pointers to lead his team on a late mini-run.

Kirk Blake, who picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter, led Hopewell with 16 points and eight steals. Graville Smith scored 15 points and 13 rebounds; Dwight Reid 13 points, while Gavin Forbes scored 11 points and had 12 rebounds.

Uter led all scorers with 19 points, while Dowman had 16 points.

On Saturday, four Central Flames players scored doubles, led by Craig Dorman with 19 points as they romped against the St James club.

Cordell Gordon scored 16 points, while Sheldon Myrie and Julian Walker scored 11 each.

The game was close for at least the first quarter as Flames led 24-19, but the St James club scored just 20 points over the final three quarters.

Hawks, meanwhile, continued their winning ways as they held off Knights, who slumped to their second loss in three games.

Hawks led 18-15 after the first quarter and 13 40-27 at half-time, but a big third quarter took the Knights back to within five points after they outscored Hawks, 28-14, to trail 49-54.

Knights fell short, however, as they failed to get any closer as Hawks who were led by Kenneth Blackwood's 21 points won by six points.

Errol Smith scored 17 points for Sav while Richards Chambers contributed 14 points and Maurice Rodriques scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds.

Omroy Kerr had 21 points and 14 rebounds for Knights, Gavin Brown scored 18 points while Lemar Mitchell scored 11 points.


By PAUL A REID, Observer writer.