- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
The Panthers' Lennoxx Lewis, left, will have to be aggressive against Tivoli's forwards in their mid-season final at the National Indoor Sports Centre today.
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
TIVOLI ALL-STARS and Blazing Panthers clash in a must-see mid-season final at the National Indoor Sports Centre today at 6:30 p.m. as the KFC/Cable & Wireless National Basketball League (NBL) hosts its first all-star weekend today and tomorrow.
Both teams topped the standings at the end of the first round and earned the right to play for $100,000 and the Western Sports trophy. Panthers led all teams with 21 points from a 10-1 record and Tivoli followed with 20 points and were 9-2.
Today's game will be a rematch of last year's mid-season final where Panthers defeated Tivoli. Both team coaches said they were expecting a keenly contested game today based on the history they have together.
Panthers' coach, Jason James, said he is wary of Tivoli's ability to quickly put points on the scoreboard but that his team was equally apt of matching the high intensity of their opponents.
"Tivoli is a high intensity team, they play at a very high level, but my team can step up to whatever level is presented to us and we are looking forward to a good challenge," James said.
In the only meeting between both teams for the season, Panthers emerged 86-79 winners. Panther's leading scorer Dwayne Harris, who is averaging 22 points per game, had 24 points and nine rebounds in that match but James said a complete team effort would be needed today.
"Everybody will have to be working together to make it easy," he said.
As league champions for the past four years, Tivoli are challenged night in and night out not only for their title but for their pride and bragging rights. No one knows this better than their coach Dennis Hutchinson who has built what is possibly the most dominant team ever.
"As the four-time champions you are constantly challenged," Hutchinson said.
"They (Panthers) beat us last year and they will be looking to defend that title. We expect a tough challenge from them. It would be to our advantage if they come out playing an individual game instead of a team game," said Hutchinson who is banking on his team's 'run and gun' style of play.
BIGGEST CHALLENGERS
Panthers certainly qualify as one of Tivoli's biggest challengers. Despite winning the mid-season final, Panthers exited the play-offs early last season losing to Harbour View Lakers in the quarter-finals.
"We had a good team and could have easily made it to the finals," James remembered.
This was seen as a disappointing end for Panthers and a second consecutive win over Tivoli in the mid-season final could help to pave a smoother path through the play-offs and put things into perspective for James' team.
"It (win) would certainly give us more confidence and more momentum." James claimed.
The win that Panthers are seeking won't come easily. Tivoli have the deepest bench in the NBL and any player can lead the team in scoring on any given night. Levar Henry and Paul Oliphant should direct traffic in the backcourt for Hutchinson and the twin towers of Andrade Wright and Damion Young should provide some trouble in the post for Panthers' forwards.
