Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
TIVOLI ALL Stars coach Dennis Hutchinson believes that focus and discipline will be keys to victory against the Portmore Flames in their bmobile and KFC-sponsored National Basketball League (NBL) semi-finals match-up.
He said this after his number one seeded All Stars ousted Blazing Panthers 89-79 in their all-important elimination Game Three at the National Stadium Courts on Friday night.
Hutchinson, however, was not altogether pleased with his team's performance.
"I don't like how we played against the Panthers. We are seeded number one and they are the eighth place team we were not getting it right tactically.
"We had our plans to execute and when we came out we did not get it right. That's not how we got to number one and it won't work against a tougher team."
The All Stars were led by a three-pronged attack which saw Damion Young, Orville Perkins and Paul Oliphant all putting up double figure scores. Oliphant led the way with 25 points, seven assists and six steals, Damion Young had a 20 points and 11 rebounds while floor leader Orville Perkins also contributed with a 20-point game.
The All Stars played well defensively in spurts and came up with big stops to repel the determined Panthers.
They went on a 4-0 run late in the fourth quarter while keeping Tivoli on 79 points for about two minutes, but that was their last stand and a big turnover with 46 seconds marked the end of their season.
"We never allowed them to get into a half court set and we just kept running the ball in the open court, giving them no time to settle," was what Hutchinson listed as the key to putting away the Panthers.
Ricardo Thompson led the Panthers with 16 points and seven rebounds, while guard Dushane White was unable to repeat his 17-point, 15-rebound Game Two performance as he could only manage a nine-point game.
Panthers' coach Jason James, disappointed with the team's loss, stated that next season will be a rebuilding period as they will be losing a few key players like Ricardo Alliman, who will be going abroad on scholarship.
"We have to rebuild. We will be losing a few players migrating and as such, next season it will be a totally different team."
