MONTEGO BAY, St James — WILLIAM Knibb Memorial will start favourites to repeat as champions of the ISSA Western Conference High School Girls’ Basketball Open competition when they take on Spot Valley High on Friday, 3:30 pm at the Montego Bay Cricket Club in a repeat of last year’s final.

The teams topped the point’s tables after the return format regular season to set up what is expected to be another close game. In last year’s final William Knibb upset Spot Valley by one point.

Both schools will also take part in the ISSA all-island play-off set to start soon.

Both are on 17 points but William Knibb, awarded points after Spot Valley forfeited their second round game last week, have played a game less and neither can be caught by any of the other four schools taking part.

Newcomers Mt Alvernia High are on 14 points from 10 games, Muschett High on 13 from 10 games, Montego Bay High on 12 points from nine games and Holland High 10 points from nine games.

Despite losing their only game of the season to Spot Valley 60-57 in their lone meeting, William Knibb boast a better all-round team and more depth than the St James school.

Spot Valley will depend heavily on the form of Loretta Gordon who scored a record 58 points when the teams first met. Since then Spot Valley have lost to newcomers Mt Alvernia High at home while William Knibb have won the next seven games after their only loss.

The trio of Andrea Campbell, Shanique Binns and Khaydeen Thompson has taken turns leading William Knibb through the season and could give the Spot Valley defence a lot of work to do.