Pythons sting Hoopers for semi-final berth
MONTEGO BAY, St James - Manchester Pythons advanced to
the semi-final of the Flow National Basketball League on
Monday night after completing a 2-0 quarter-final win
over Western champions Hoopers at the Montego Bay
Cricket Club.
Hoopers' Chayne Topey gets ready to defend a Phytons'
player in Game
One action on Saturday, Nov 28 in Nazerene, Manchester.
Despite a much-improved performance in front of their
home crowd, Hoopers went down 67-62 on Monday for an
aggregate 150-117 loss as the Manchester team joined
Southern Conference champions Urban Knights as the early
semi-finalists.
The game was originally set for Sunday afternoon, but
was postponed by a day as the venue was not available.
But for a lopsided fourth quarter in Saturday’s first
leg played in Mandeville, the series could have been
much more competitive.
Hoopers, who went into Monday’s game trailing by 28
points after losing 83-55 on Saturday and needing to
push the tempo and set the pace, created a number of
turnovers.
On Saturday, Hoopers — who beat Catherine Hall All-Stars
to win the western title — trailed by just nine points,
48-39, going into the final quarter, but then
inexplicably gave up 35 points.
Hoopers led by two points after the first quarter on
Monday after trailing 8-11 with four minutes to go, but
despite inspired defence midway the second quarter,
trailed 28-31 at the half.
Pythons increased the lead after the third quarter by
six points, 44-38, and despite another run in the fourth
quarter by the Montego Bay team, held on for the win.
Urged on by their fans, Hoopers overcame the deficit to
take the lead by a point, 58-57, with just under two
minutes to go, but the Pythons regained the lead, 63-60,
with a minute and five seconds to go.
Damon Sullivan was the topscorer for Pythons with
19 points and eight rebounds; Nevije Walters had
16 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while
Christopher Harvey scored 12 points.
Marlon Comrie with 15 points was the topscorer
for Hoopers. Omar Bell came off the bench to
score 10 points, including two three-pointers, while
Nicholas Daye and Rayan Bolt each scored nine
points.
