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April
4, 2008
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Weekend Prevue: Round Four
Tigers, Hoopers Takes Spotlight This Weekend
Unbeaten Hoopers (3-0) and the resurgent Railway Tigers
(2-1) clash in the feature match of the Western
Basketball Association's Lucozade Sport Men's Basketball
Championship at the Montego Bay Cricket Club court in
the fifth round of matches this weekend.
Co-leaders and title favorites Hoopers will on Sunday
seek to consolidate their position atop the table when
they oppose the resurging and feisty Tigers, who are on
a streak of their own. Hoopers share the top spot with
Granville Wolfpack with 6 points.
This season Hoopers have displayed no leadership crisis
in comparison to their 2007 campaign. They also signed
the veteran and highly-respected coach Douglas Reid,
who had made a name for himself, taking Hopewell Cobras
to several basketball finals back in the day. Ryan
Bolt, Andrae Morgan, Omar Bell,
Omar Taylor, Neville Clare and company are
playing like a well tuned orchestra. A 4-0 start is not
inconceivable as they aim for perfection.
On the other hand, Tigers who after losing its first
game have pounced back winning their last two. They too
have benefited through the addition of a top coach, in
the form of Ronald Beckford, who incidentally
held a previous head coaching stint with Hoopers last
season. Beckford's resume looks good, he led his William
Knibb schoolboy team to back to back under 16 titles;
seems to be a good fit with Tigers' youthful
aggregation, as is evident by the two games he piloted.
With the likes of Dave "Puwee" Black, Jermaine
Rerrie, Caustant Holness, Richard Harriott
and Tammy Davis in their lineup, the cats will be
a formidable threat to any opponent.
Saturday's opener has the former champions and
pre-season favorites, Sav-La-Mar Hawks (2-1) of
Westmoreland seeking to displace the floundering league
leaders Wolfpack (2-2). Hawks occupies the third spot in
the current standings; however, based on current form
both teams seem headed into opposite directions. Since
losing their season opener to Hoopers back on March 10th
Hawks have won their two last games whilst Wolfpack who
started 2-0 have lost their last two games, making for
another duel in this rather competitive championship.
Hawks Possess ample firepower, in fact an abundance of
talent posing a challenge for the coaching staff. The
starting lineup should read Dillon Hodges,
Maurice Rodriques, Ricardo Blair, Kenneth
Blackwood and Kareem Hibbert. Wolfpack will
be in for a nightmare as the Hawks 'strike-force'
prepares to take flight on the competition.
Wolfpack could change their poor form against the
predators this weekend, but they will have to stick
together, anything less will prove detrimental. Their
attack will be bolstered by the inclusion of
guard/forward Neil 'Chinny" Samuels who will suit
up for the wolves this weekend. The Hubert Grant
led team, for the most part are not expected to
surrender, with the veterans Albert Munroe, the
Dowman brothers, Vaughn Lee and Dwight Clare
complimented by Samuels and Andre Uter. An
intense battle of endurance and tactical prowess will be
tested.
In Saturday's night cap, the 4th placed Innercity
Avalanche (2-1) look to maintain dominance over the
lowly placed Bay City Lions (0-4). Avalanche aren't as
strong of efficient a team this season, but has shown
heart and character in their quest for a title. Coach
Galton Taylor knows he got a tough task in getting
his squad to pose a serious threat. Cleon Morgan
and Chayne Topey have both stepped up their game
ever since Adolph Erskine's hiatus. Nicholas
Watson, Damian Smith and O'Neil Clarke
are dependable contributors who should get increased
playing time in this game.
Lions find themselves in all too familiar territory;
they reside in the last place. Club management never did
much to improve their roster during the off-season and
this could prove fatal or make them prime candidates for
relegation. It's a travesty for a team, being former
champions; possess three of the leagues active veterans
in the likes of Kevin "Goose" Goldson, Richard
"Lenky" Thomas and Floyd "Lloydie" Dixon to
be limping like a injured animal with no real attempt to
remedy their situation. Lions must act now to turn
around its fortunes, whose season is a mere whimper of
what is expected to be a roar of a challenge to
competition.
Fans may view and download match results, stats and full
season schedule from www.wbajamaica.com. Patrons are
reminded that entry fee for regular season games is
$100.00 and $50 for children 12 and under.
By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.
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