Adrian Frater, News Editor
Players and officials of the victorious Avalanche team celebrate their 96-84 Western Basketball Association/Lucozade men's division one league win over Savanna-la-mar Hawks on Saturday night at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU:
INNER-CITY team Avalanche captured the 2006 Western Basketball
Association/Lucozade men's division one league in exciting fashion on Saturday
night when they scored a hard-fought 96-84 win over a determined Sav-la-mar
Hawks at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts.
"We really wanted this one tonight because we have been around for quite awhile but we have never won anything," said Galton Taylor, the coach of the Avalanche team, which comprises players from various inner-city communities in Montego Bay.
"I thought the players did extremely well and really deserved this win."
In the first quarter it was all Avalanche as top player Adolph Erskine, who had a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, took complete command offensively, scoring three three-pointers in rapid succession as he guided the team to a good 31-20 lead at the first break.
The second quarter saw more Avalanche dominance as Oniel Blake, who finished the game with 26 points and 19 rebounds and Jerome Kisena, whose passing was superb, joined Erskine in heaping pressure on Hawks both offensively and defensively. The quarter ended with Avalanche in total command, leading by a comfortable 51-36 margin.
In the third quarter, Hawks gradually begun to show some form with top player Maurice Rodriques, who finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds and Robert Spence, who got a team-high 22 points and 16 rebounds, coming into their own.
Despite cutting into Avalanche's lead, they still trailed by a 74-64 margin at the end of the quarter.
The final quarter was fast paced and exciting with both teams going all out in attack. Hawks had and excellent run in which they drew level at 76-76 but Avalanche dug deep, especially after Rodriques fouled out and were actually moving away when the final whistle came at 96-84.
The point standings going into the second phase of the five-team competition reads as follows: Avalanche-16, Hawks-12, Glendevon-11, Cobras-11 and Falmouth Flame-5.
