Wizards seal finals berth - Legends aim to close out advantage

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Tivoli Wizards booked their spot in the finals of the Flow/National Basketball League, following their easy 60-42 win over the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) in Game Two of their best-of-three finals on Sunday night at the National Stadium courts.

The Wizards, who are seeking their second straight hold on the trophy, won the series 2-0.

Last year's beaten finalists, Majesty Legends, will be hoping to join the Wizards in the championship games when they face Urban Knights in Game Two of the best-of-three semi-finals today at the same venue.

The Legends are firm favourites to win today after they demolished the Knights 75-53 in their opening game on Sunday night.

National representative and captain of the Legends team, Kemar McLeish, who scored a game-high 27 points in their opening win, is confident his side can close it out.

"We are going to end this series tomorrow (today) because we are playing the better ball game now and we can't afford to let them back into this series," said McLeish.

"I think that they will be coming out running because their backs are against wall, but we just have to match their intensity by rebounding the ball and shut down their bench players, and once we do this, then we should win the game," he reasoned.

McLeish is expected to receive solid support from Baldon Todd, who scored 13 points in Game One, along with Damion Young, who contributed 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

Level the series

On the other hand, Calvin Martin, coach of the Knights, believes his side can level the series.

"We just have to come out and play hard if we are going to win this game and even the series," said Martin.

"I think that we were humiliated by the Legends in the opening game, and in order for us to get back in this series, we just have to play smart, rebound the ball and convert our free throws," Martin added.

The Knights will rest their hopes in the hands of André Murray, who scored 15 points in Game One, and Javon Bailey, who netted 14 points.

In the meantime, the Wizards, who retained their Southern Conference title earlier in the season, were led to their victory courtesy of Omar Barnes' game-high 15 points.

Barnes received solid support from Kirk Ferguson (13 points) and Anthony Farquharson (10 points, 11 rebounds). Calvin Mallett (10) and Keeble Wright (10) were the main scorers for the JDF.