Kwesi Mugisa, Staff ReporterURBAN KNIGHTS preserved their perfect start to the 2006 KFC/bmobile National Basketball (NBL) season when they easily dismissed a recently upbeat Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) 74-57 at the National Stadium courts on Thursday night.
It was a two-pronged attack spearheaded by Lancelot Grandison who had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and Paul Oliphant who had 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.
The Knights got off to a solid start and led the JDF 24-14 at the end of the 1st quarter. Anchored by a staunch defensive effort, they would double that lead by the end of the third quarter at 56-36. The final stanza would see the JDF unable to make any significant cut into the Knights' lead. Stephen Spence had 16 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort.
WINNING STREAK
The loss sees the JDF fall to a 5-6 record, following an impressive two-game winning streak which had also seen them stun the defending champion St. George's Slayers. The Urban Knights have, on the other hand, won their first nine games of the season and now remain the only unbeaten team in the league following the Denham Town Wizards' 90-81 loss to the Slayers on Tuesday.
Things continue to fall apart for last year's league semi-finalists Harbour View Lakers as they fell to their seventh straight loss of the season, when they narrowly lost to Link-Up All-Stars 73-68. Gary Reid's 26 points and 12 rebounds were not enough to stop the Lakers from plummeting to a disastrous 1-7 record.
In today's games Arnett Gardens Rockers will take on Portmore Flames at 6:00 p.m. and Blazing Panthers take on the St. George's Slayers at 8:00 p.m. at the National Stadium courts, while Norwood Storms will host Tivoli All-Stars at Montego Bay Cricket Club.
