Wizards, Legends aiming to close out NBL semi-final series

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions, Tivoli Wizards and Majesty Legends will be aiming to close out their best-of-three series in the Flow/National Basketball League Southern Conference semi-finals, when they oppose the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Urban Knights, respectively, in Game Two at the National Stadium Courts this evening.

The Wizards and the Legends lead the series 1-0 following victories in Game One on Tuesday night at the same venue.

The Wizards, who are seeking their second consecutive hold on the trophy, will take the court at 8 p.m. against the JDF, against whom who they recorded a 62-52 win, while the Legends, who defeated the Knights 61-58, will take the court at 6 p.m.

Despite a 10-point victory margin, Edward 'Ted' Marshall, the coach of Tivoli, expects a tough challenge.

"It is going to be tough game because the JDF is down and so we will have to play a solid all-round game to beat them," he said.

charge for victory

Game One's top performers, Kirk Ferguson, who scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Anthony Farquharson, who netted 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, will lead the Wizards' charge for victory.

Meanwhile, Percival Smart, coach of the JDF, is confident his team can level the series.

"To win this game we will have to play basic basketball because we did not play well defensively in our first match. I also believe that once we maximise our opportunities and take better care of the ball then we should win," said Smart.

The soldiers will rest their hopes in the hands of Fuertado Clarke and Stephen Spence, who scored nine points each in their opening-game defeat.

For the other match, Baldon Todd, captain of the Legends, who led his side to victory over the Knights with his team-high 17 points, said they will be going all out to wrap up the series today.

"We have to make sure that we close it out in Game Two because we don't want to go to a Game Three with this team, and so we just need to kill them off on Thursday," said Todd.

But Kevin Alexander, manager of the Knights, is certain his team can level the series.

"I have all the confidence in my team because once we come out focused and do what we're supposed to do I know that we will come out on top," said Alexander.