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Stabroek News

Knights bounce into final
published: Friday | August 26, 2005

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter


Urban Knights captain Lancelot Grandison drives past St George's Slayers Kali McCarthy to make an easy lay up last season. Grandison scored 18 points in Wednesday night's KO semi against the same opponents to steer his team into the final. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

URBAN KNIGHTS rebounded from a huge first-quarter deficit to knock off St George's Slayers 58-51 in the Jamaica Basketball Associations DHL Knockout Classic on Wednesday night at the National Stadium outdoor courts.

An 18-point showing by captain Lancelot Grandison was instrumental in helping his team come from behind to defeat the league champions. It reversed the outcome of the KFC/bmobile semi-final league game between the sides.

The Knights wilted under the pressure of the cramping St George's defence early as the Slayers got a hand to every ball and did a good job of converting fast break opportunities which came from defensive stops and led 21-7 at the first break.

However, the second quarter was Knights increase their defensive intensity as they closed the driving lane and forced the Slayers into bad shots and poor clock management. At the same time the Knights doubled their efforts to get to the rim and were not shy about driving into the teeth of the Slayers' defence.

FAINT OF HEART

This got them back into the game as a 15-point second quarter saw them close to 34-22. Pretty soon the key was not a place for the faint of heart as both teams challenged fiercely, turning the game into an exhibition of defensive intensity but a brilliant third quarter by Grandison made a huge difference as his team started to narrow the gap.

Grandison scored four baskets in a row - among them a huge three pointer - for nine of his 18 points, to put the Knights in the lead with four minutes remaining in the third quarter and give them the momentum going into the fourth. The Urban Knights continued to frustrate the Slayers with their defence for most of the final quarter as the St George's team was desperate to regain the lead but went about it the wrong way as they began to hoist up three-point attempts to cut the deficit. The Slayers missed sharp shooting of league MVP Owain Hall as they went 0-8 from behind the line in an attempt to get back into the game. The Knights on the other hand stuck to their game plan of darting to the rack and as a result were able to see off the Slayers.

St George's Andree Wilson had 18 points in the losing effort. The evening's other scheduled semi between Tivoli Gardens All-Stars and Harbour View Lakers did not take place. The Lakers arrived late for the 6:00 encounter and the game may be rescheduled for Sunday which is the day the final has been scheduled for. According to Lakers coach, Donald Jackson, the team was not to blame for its late appearance.

"We had 7:45 game and as such we turned up for a 7:45 game. Since the competition started we have not been given any fixtures and I have been dependent on someone calling me to tell me when the game is. Yesterday I was told the game was at 7:45 and that's when we showed up," Jackson said.

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