Tivoli cop top awards

Tivoli Gardens Wizards forward Omar Barnes and coach Edward 'Ted' Marshall were all smiles after claiming the National Basketball League Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year Awards on Sunday night at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The duo collected their awards shortly after the conclusion of Game Three of the Flow-sponsored championship's best-of-three finals series.

The Wizards, led by a game-high 24 points from Barnes, defeated Majesty Legends 79-59 to claim the series 2-1, and their second consecutive hold on the title.

Barnes also claimed seven rebounds, made one assist and three steals. He was best supported by Anthony Farquharson, with 15 points and three rebounds, Delano Mallett, 15 points and four rebounds and Andrew Whilby, 10 points and 17 rebounds.

The Legends were led by Havando Dunn, with 13 points and three rebounds Kemar McLeish, 12 points and four rebounds; and Damion Young, 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The showdown was a close contest up to the midway point, even after the Wizards took the first quarter 24-13.

The Legends then replied with an equally impressive second-quarter performance of 24-13, thus equalling the contest at 37-all at half-time.

However, the Wizards came out blazing in the third quarter, in which they scored 24 points to the Legends' 12 for a 61-49 lead.

They never eased up in the final stanza and went on to claim a compreheneive win, their second in succession, after losing the opening match.