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April
24, 2008
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Weekend Prevue: Mid Season Final
There
Can Only Be One
The first piece of hardware of
the Western Basketball Association's season will be
decided this Saturday, April 26 @ the Montego Bay
Cricket Club court, when the Lucozade Sport Men's
Basketball Championship unfolds between Hoopers - the
defending champion and the 2006 champions - Innercity
Avalanche.
The WBA, always introducing something new and exciting
will have as a prelude to the title game, a match
involving the league's officials and coaches parading
their skills against a KLAS FM 89 Media team led by
popular radio sports personality Dwight Frasier.
Kids and adults alike will be in for some premium
giveaways, as sponsors Lucozade Sport and Pharmaton
should be on hand to stage contests.
 Round
ball action begins at 5pm; patrons will pay $100.00
(adults) while children will be $50. The evening's
feature will be a very interesting one, considering that
it will be a rematch of last season's Mid Season final.
Both teams boast identical 5-1 records and the fact
remains, their only meeting so far was an exciting
overtime thriller with Avalanche handing Hoopers its
only loss of the season after winning four straight.
With revenge, bragging rights and Ten Thousand dollars
($10,000) all good ingredients molded into one game,
there is no clear favorite. So expect an enthralling
encounter between two of western Jamaica's finest.
Avalanche is reaching their third mid-season finals in
consecutive seasons, having won in 2006 before losing to
Hoopers last year. On the flip side Hoopers are
contesting back - to - back finals, eager to repeat and
add to their trophy collection (2007 Mid-Season and
President's Cup Knockout).
On the way to the finals, Avalanche has scored an
average of 74.1 points per game whilst only conceding
62.1 points. Their counterpart, Hoopers owns the
league's best averages. At 77 points per game on
offense, but what is remarkable is their ability to hold
teams at a mere 58.8 points. Hoopers had a 4-0 start to
the season before being knocked from the summit by
Avalanche who is currently on a four (4) game win
streak. Both teams will be showcasing eight all-star
caliber players between them. Avalanche have four in
Damian "Lapas" Smith, Chayne Topey, Dane
Morris and Cleon Morgan who top scored
against the Southern Conference All-Stars last Sunday in
Kingston. Hoopers' captain Andrae Morgan,
Marlon Comrie, Neville Claire along with the
previously mentioned Avalanche players played as team
mates on the WBA's traveling team, but are back to take
care of unfinished business for their respective clubs.
The Hoopers aggregation is determined to repeat as
champions and avenge their recent loss to the hands of
their perennial opponents. With its new
coaching/management staff in place a title would be a
good impetus for Hoopers and reward for the preparations
put into the season. For Avalanche, Coach Galton
Taylor stated that a title would be a welcome bonus
considering his depleted squad.
"I admire the way the
team has come together and played despite our setbacks."
He further added "the team to compete consistently at
both ends of the court will prevail."
By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.
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