Knights, Jaguars in semis

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Last year’s beaten finalists, MoBay Cricket Club Knights and the former many times champions, Granville Jaguars, have joined Falmouth Saints as the two early qualifiers for the best-of-three semi finals of the Western Basketball Association Elite League following an emphatic win on the weekend.

Knights sent the Cornwall Court Chargers tumbling back into Division One, after yet another lopsided clobbering, dismissing their baffling opponents 90-49 in a lopsided beat down, which started out at a scrappy and dragged affair.

In one of the worst quarter displays of the season, both teams accounted for a combined 18 points, with the Chargers managing just a mere six.

Chargers tallied a further 12 in the second quarter, but Knights roared to new heights, slamming in a staggering season-high 30 points to begin the destruction of their so-called challengers, romping to a 42-18 advantage going into the break.

Chargers, though improved slightly in the second half, still proved ineffective as the rampant Knights, scoring freely and capitalizing on fast break points, uncontested lay-ups and steals, added a further 48 points to their tally to mark off the win and complete the 2-0 quarter final series sweep.

The energetic Demoy Daye led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Antonio Spence, who took a knock to the mouth early in the contest, added 18 and also hauled down 10 rebounds.

Up off the bench where he has spent most of his time this campaign, Omroy Kerr added 10 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished three assists.

For the Chargers who had been on life support all season, Franz Clennon had 15 points and Govanni Bailey 14, along with 7 rebounds and 5 steals.

In the opening game of the evening, Jaguars survived a late push to cool off Lucea Flames 87-77 to also win their series 2-0 and move into the last four.

Jaguars, despite not at their fluent best and free-scoring abilities did what was required to seal off their opponents.

In a close showing in the third and fourth quarters, Flames turned up their scoring percentage and capitalized on a few mismatches and key players resting to pull to within a point at one stage.

However, bad decisions and a determination of a one-man ball handling by Julian Walker proved destructive as within two minutes of needing a point, they fell 8 behind through quick scoring by the Jaguars on the reintroduction of David Gordon, the muscle man down low.

Gordon ended with 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Jaguars, while the China-bound Dave Black added 24, had 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

For Lucea Flames, the late-arriving Julian walker led the way with 27 points and Sheldon Myrie, 15 along with 13 rebounds.

Jvon Calderon was also influential, ending with 20 rebounds and 13 points.