Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE 2006 Cool Runnings Spring Water/Western Basketball Associa-tion (WBA) Division Two League, which resumed action last weekend after a two-week break, will move into its semi-finals and final this weekend with back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday at the Montego Bay Cricket Club courts.

In the semi-final games on Saturday, the exciting All Stars, who topped the standing in the eight-team preliminary round, will battle fourth-place Warriors in the first game at 6:00 p.m, while Jaguars and Tigers, who took third and fourth places respectively, will square off in the second game at 8:00 p.m.

On Sunday, the two semi-final winners will square off in the championship game at 7:00 p.m. All Stars and Jaguars are the hot favourites to reach the final and qualify for next year's Division One competition.

In last weekend's final round of preliminary games, All Stars cemented their place atop the standings with an emphatic 78-32 win over Fury, while Warriors secured their semi-final place with a good 65-51 win over Blades.

No mercy

Showing no signs of the two weeks of inactivity, All Stars showed no mercy against Fury winning the respective quarters 12-9, 24-10, 27-7 and 15-6 as Dwain Allen and Gayon Curtis, who scored 14 and 13 points respectively in the game, made their presence felt.

In Warriors' wins over Blades, the victors started out in dominant fashion, winning the first quarter by an impressive 18-6 margin as Nunyi Wright, who had a game-high 40 points, and Andre Dixon, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds, wreaked havoc under the hoop.

Blades stormed back in the second quarter to edge Warriors 22-17 as Asher Findlater, who ended the game with 19 points, turned in a good display. However, Warriors went into the half-time break with a good overall 35-28 lead.

Warrior regained the initiative in the final two quarters, which they won 12-10 and 18-13 for their final 65-51 win.

- A.F.