Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
THE RUNNIN' Rebels emphatically put an end to their two-game skid when they destroyed the Harbour View Lakers 92-68 as KFC/bMobile National Basketball League (NBL) action continued on Tuesday at the National Stadium courts.
The Lakers, who were coming off a huge 112-58 victory over the Norwood Storms on Thursday, began the encounter in a positive fashion, led by a solid early start from big man Gary Reid, who had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the game. They got off to a 6-0 start and led by 10 midway through the first quarter.
However, things then fell apart for last year's semi-finalists and a sensational shooting performance from Gregg Warlock, who ended up with 27 points and seven rebounds, saw the Rebels fire their way back into the game. Warlock and the Rebels were searing from behind the three-point line.
The player who was five of 11 overall, hit four of seven from behind the arch which not only saw his team quickly erase the deficit - on the heels of a 33 point second quarter - but lead the deflated and defensively inept Lakers 55-31 at halftime.
LOST CAUSE
The Lakers' floor leader, Michael Jackson, who finished with 15 points, attempted to get his team back into the game. However, it was a lost cause and with the Lakers unable to find any easy baskets, the Rebels were merciless and looked to extend their lead on a Lakers team whose objective in the final quarter seemed to be not to give up 100 points.
The Lakers now slump to a 1-4 record while the Rebels are 2-2.
FLAMES BURN JDF
In the day's earlier game, Portmore Flames, led by 17 points and five rebounds from top marksman Adrian Coote, notched their second straight win of the season, when they edged the Jamaica Defence Force 60-58, courtesy of a last-minute shot by Jermaine Moscoe.
The JDF, led by Mario Prawl's 14 points, dropped their fourth straight game and are 1-4, while the Flames are at .500 with a 2-2 record.
In Monday's games. the St. George's Slayers, now 4-1, got by the Link-Up All-Stars 89-71. Kali McCarthy top scored in the encounter with 20 points and also hauled in nine rebounds. Rainbow Storms crashed to their fifth straight loss of the season following a 80-61 defeat at the hands of Arnett Gardens Rockers.
