LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Kevin Daley of Hagley Park Thorns goes up for a lay-up ahead of Jermaine Vassel during their Homestyle Juices Division One Basketball League match at the National Stadium court on Sunday.- photo by LeVaughn Flynn

Hagley Park Thorns, one of two unbeaten teams in the Homestyle Juices Division One Basketball League, have adopted a winning attitude to the game, according to coach Duken Brown.

"We have a different mentality now and we've been sharing the ball more," said Brown, who is in his first year as coach of the club. "We've put more team effort in it and that's why we have such a good record now."

Hagley Park notched their ninth straight win on Sunday with a 97-57 hammering of Rollington Town Bears at the National Stadium court.

Hagley Park, whose core squad has been together for several years, had 18 assists compared to Rollington Town's four and they also had five players scoring in double figures.

Despite the numbers though, Brown wasn't satisfied.

"I wanted a hundred," he quipped. "We've never scored a hundred points in a game."

Vinton Brown led all players with 23 points and eight rebounds as Hagley Park and Selassie Gardens (10-0) remained unbeaten. Also contributing top scores were Kevin Daley (14), Richard Mahabeer (13), Maurice Blackwood (12) and Ralston Gordon (11).

Scoreless

Rollington Town, who have lost four of their six games, trailed from the start as Hagley Park ran at them and took a 26-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bears gathered themselves in the second quarter and came within eight points (27-35) but were unable to maintain the pressure on Hagley Park, who were scoreless for the first five minutes of the period.

"We have a very young and inexperienced team this year and you need experience to maintain that momentum," said Bears' player/coach Jermaine Vassell when asked about the spurt by his team.

By the fourth quarter, Hagley Park had a 65-44 lead but instead of relaxing, they applied a full-court press defence and converted on the numerous turnovers for a blow-out.

Despite being hammerd, Rollington Town found the extra pep needed to deny Hagley Park the 100 points they were after.

"We couldn't allow that. Nobody has ever scored a hundred points against Rollington Town," said Vassell.

Howard Jones led Rollington Town with 16 points and six rebounds and Akeem Kerr contributed 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Also on Sunday, Michael Carnegie scored Seaview Flames' last four points as they came from behind to beat Police 82-81. With just over a minute left, Carnegie converted a pair of free-throws and a lay-up while Police were unable to score.

Carnegie ended with 27 points and Earl Sinclair added 13 points, five steals and five rebounds for Seaview, who have seven wins from nine games. Marlon Millis led Police (3-3) with 24 points and nine rebounds.