Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
RYAN PEDDLAR poured in 31 points and snatched 15 rebounds for the Portmore Flames in a close 81-78 victory over the Harbour View Lakers in KFC/bmobile National Basketball League (NBL) action at the National Stadium courts on Monday night.
Though getting off to a fast start, with a 21-17 lead to end the first quarter, the Flames eventually found themselves down by 10 at 60-50 heading into the final quarter. However, led by Peddlar, they outscored the Lakers 31-18 in the final stanza, sending the Harbour View team to its seventh loss of the season.
Dave McGowan contributed 22 points for the victors while the Lakers' main man, Michael Jackson, mustered 25.
Peddlar had been away from the team at the start of the season for personal reasons, but returned last Tuesday and is a welcome addition to a side that has got off to a 3-5 start to the season. Peddlar, alongside big man Kareem McFarlene, was impressive for his team in the playoffs last year, averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds in two games.
The Tivoli-All Stars made it two games in a row when they got by the Arnett Gardens Rockers 62-59 in the night's other game.
Big man Duken Brown's 21 points and 14 rebounds led the way for the team which has lacked consistency so far this season. Damion Young assisted Brown with 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Vivian Spence had 15 points in Arnett's losing effort.
