Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
URBAN KNIGHTS notched their seventh straight win of the 2006 KFC/bmobile National Basketball season when they narrowly clipped the Portmore Flames 69-66 at the National Stadium courts on Tuesday.
Paul Oliphant led the way for Knights with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a comeback effort which saw them recover from a 17-13 first quarter deficit to send the Flames to their second straight loss and a 2-4 record. Dave McGowan had 18 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort for Portmore.
On Monday, struggling Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) shocked defending champions St. George's Slayers when they handed them a 58-55 loss, snapping a five-game losing streak and registering their second win of the season.
PROMOTION
Promoted from Division One this season, things have not been easy for JDF in the top flight with their only win of the season before Monday coming against fellow debutants, Rainbow Storms, in their season opener. However, a big game by centre Feurtado Clarke, who poured in 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, his double/double in a row, saw them to victory No. 2. Clutching a four-point lead when the first quarter drew to a close 11-7, the Soldiers never trailed.
In fact, they went on to outscore the cup holders for the next two quarters and found themselves with a 17-point lead, 48-31, heading into the final stanza.
However, St. George's would not give up without a fight and, led by Andre Wilson, (18 points and 15 rebounds) staged a huge fourth-quarter comeback and cut the lead three points. But that would be as close as they would get.
In Monday night's other game, Denham Town Wizards kept their perfect 7-0 record intact when they got the better of Link Up All-Stars, 73-7. Anthony Farquharson led the way for the Wizards with 26 points and nine rebounds.
