Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

MoBay Cricket Club Knights, missing top scorer Omroy Kerr, steamrolled Boys Club Warriors 75-59 to clinch the best-of-three final series 2-0 and claim a fantastic win in the Hi-Lite Insports Western Conference Basketball Championship on Sunday.

Led by 21 points from point guard Jamoi Richards, the Knights dominated from start to finish as the Warriors, also missing their top shooter in Sheldon Lyle and big man Andrew Parkinson, never fully got into the game.

"It went as planned. The players enjoyed themselves and played hard, and while the Warriors cut into our lead in the third quarter we had enough to stay on top to clinch the series," said winning coach Sheldon Pearson.

He added: "They introduced a player in the third quarter and he came out hot, hitting his shots and all but we had the superior team and I'm happy for the victory.

"It's now on to the National Basketball League and, as a result, we will be bolstering the squad to cope with some of these bigger clubs," he said.

The Warriors were not fully out of the game after the first two quarters, as they trailed by only 11 points (39-28), but after the half-time break, the superior ball-handlers in the Knights camp pushed the score to 61-40, with Richards, Lemar Mitchell and Daniel Malcolm contributing to the eventual blowout.

Mitchell had 14 points and two rebounds, while Malcolm added 10 points and five rebounds for the Knights, who took all quarters 16-14, 23-14, 22-12 and 14-19, with Fabian Gifford, 18 points and two rebounds, the top performer.

Kirkland Sterling chipped in with a double-double, 14 points and 13 rebounds.

"This is a good win; it sets us up for the national league and although we are a little short on experience we will add to the squad to give us that edge, so I have to congratulate the team on how we played throughout the season," said Pearson.

Meanwhile, it was a Antoniel Watson show as Trelawny Tornadoes whipped Savannah J-Hawks 73-59 to win third place. Watson had a monster game, putting up 41 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Curtis Anderson tallied 17 and Chescardo Grant 16 and six rebounds for J-Hawks.