Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
Urban Knights point guard Javon Bailey (left) dribbles by Rohan Cruise of Blazing Panthers during Game One of the best-of-three series in the National Basketball League final at the Stadium Courts on Thursday night. Urban Knights won 81-67. Game Two is on Sunday at the same venue starting at 7 p.m.

"He saved us," was the expression of a relieved Calvin Martin after his Urban Knights team defied an amazing fourth-quarter run by Blazing Panthers, thanks to Linton Murray, to take Game One of the KFC National Basketball League final at the National Stadium courts Thursday night.

Murray, who averaged 17 points per game going into the final, had a game-high 24 points to lead his team to an 81-67 win. However, the comfortable 14-point victory was only possible after Murray went on an awe-inspiring streak. After seeing his opponents cut an 18-point lead to two in five minutes, Murray took charge of the game and scored 14 straight points, which included four three pointers, giving Urban Knights the upper hand going into Game Two of the best-of-three finals on Sunday night.

"I just got into a zone," said Murray, who was also a key member of the Urban Knights 2004 championship side.

"I saw Panthers getting close so I just said to myself I have to play with confidence and let it fly," he added.

Forward Andrew Whilby led the team throughout the first half and collected 13 points and 14 rebounds. After ending the first and second quarters leading 24-19 and 39-29 respectively, Urban Knights went on a 10-2 run to end the third quarter and opened up a 60-42 lead.

15-0 run

The momentum swung in Panthers favour, however, at the start of the fourth quarter as Rohan Cruise (13 points) and Kirk Ferguson (14 points) led the first-time finalists on a 15-0 run.

A stunned Urban Knights were held scoreless for the first four and a half minutes of the final quarter and Panthers came within two points (62-60), before it became the Linton Murray Show.

Martin blamed their fourth-quarter lapse on complacency.

"We got complacent because we were up by 18 and felt we could do whatever we wanted," said Martin.

While Urban Knights may have had a bout of self-righteousness, brief spells of brilliance by the Panthers aided their cause.

Cruise and captain Dushane White (13 points) were persistent in driving to the basket and the experience of Ferguson made an unlikely comeback seem possible. The all-round play of Anthony White was also huge.

"At that point we realised we could have overcome them but it didn't happen," said Panthers coach Donald Bimmer. Bimmer added that the lack of defensive rebounding in the first half and turnovers forced them to play catch-up.

Urban Knights will now look to wrap up the series, but Panthers aren't expected to go down without delivering a few snarls here and there. Murray said if they are to avoid a Game Three on Wednesday, a mid-game collapse is not an option.

"We have to step up and make sure we don't get flat in the third quarter in Game Two," said Murray. "We have to keep the intensity right through."

- L.F.