Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

THE PORTMORE Flames are off to a hot start to the 2007 KFC Jamaica Basketball Association National Basketball League (NBL) season following a 94-91 win over the Blazing Panthers in a doubleheader at the National Stadium courts on Tuesday night.

In the night's other game, the Runnin Rebels, led by 17 points from sharpshooter Greg Warlock, surged to a 66-56 victory over the Link-Up All Stars.

In a see-saw battle the Flames, led by a 28 point and 12 rebound double-double from Kenardo Smith, took charge early - leading 26-23 after the first quarter. The Panthers, who had Linford Brown with 20 points as their top scorer, eventually took things over and had carved themselves out a 52-47 lead by half-time.

Sharpshooting

However, in the third quarter the sharpshooting of Adrian Coote, who finished with 27 points for the Flames, saw them outscore the Panthers 29-13 and take a 76-65 lead into the final break. The Blazing Panthers, who were also spurred on by 18 points from Kirk Ferguson and 16 from Desmond Harriott, rallied in the final stanza but saw their efforts fall short.

Against the Link-Up All Stars, the Rebels, supported by Paran Brown's 16 points and 14 rebounds, led from wire to wire.

In a low-scoring encounter, the Rebels got off to a solid start with a 19-9 lead. At half-time the All-Stars had clawed their way back into the game at 32-27, but the Rebels were too much to handle, pushing to a 48-37 lead in the third quarter, before clamping down to secure the win in the final quarter.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

At the National Stadium courts - Denham Town Wizards vs. Pure Playaz - 6:00 p.m.

Arnett Gardens Rochers vs. St. George's Slayers - 7:45 p.m.