Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
THE HARBOUR View Lakers kept their slim hopes of staying in top-flight basketball alive following a 77-66 victory over the Portmore Flames in the KFC/bmobile National Basketball League action at the National Stadium courts on Monday night.
However, for the Flames, who are locked in heated race with Runnin' Rebels for the eighth and final playoff spot, the result was a disappointing one.
A loss to the Flames would have relegated the Lakers, at 6-14, to playing next season in Division One. Now, as things stand with two games remaining, they still have a chance to catch the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), but have a rocky road ahead, with their final two opponents being the league's second-place Denham Town Wizards and fourth-place Tivoli All-Stars.
The JDF finished their season on a winning note when they defeated Arnett Gardens Rockers 67-56.
Nicholas Bogle's game-high 21 points and 18 rebounds led the way for the Lakers in Monday night's game, while Gary Reid added 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Kenardo Smith had 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Flames, while Christopher Sandcroft also had a 10 point and 16 rebound double-double.
Before Monday's loss, the Flames were tied with Runnin' Rebels at 7-13 and 27 points.
LOOKING IN
However, the loss put them on the outside looking in, while they have a chance to beat the Rebels when they meet in an 8:00 p.m. encounter at the National Stadium courts tonight, the Rebels still have a game in hand and will take on the already relegated Rainbow Storms on Friday.
In Monday night's other game, Tivoli All-Stars wrapped up fourth following a 103-82 rout of the Blazing Panthers.
The Panthers, who are now seventh at 9-12 and with 30 points, will look to secure that spot when they take on the Rockers in today's 6:00 p.m. encounter at the National Stadium. The Rockers are in fifth place at 10-10 and 30 points.
Tivoli will play their final game of the season against the relegation threatened Harbour View Lakers tomorrow night.
Duken Brown had 26 points and 11 rebounds in Tivoli's triumph while Damian Young contributed 21 points and seven rebounds. Lynford Brown poured in 30 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Panthers, while Dushane White had 17 points and nine rebounds.
