Howard McCatty Cup unveiled
THE Howard McCatty Cup, sponsored by Tastee Limited, the emblem for which teams currently competing in the Community Basketball League finals will vie, was unveiled at Tuesday evening’s opening match between Majesty Gardens and Upper Room Church, in the Western Divisional best-of-three finals at Majesty Gardens Courts.
McCatty is an outstanding and long-standing servant of basketball in Jamaica. One who over 40 years has delivered devoted service to the sport in a number of essential positions, being president, referee, coach and referee instructor.
The four teams vying for the trophy in the Community Basketball League finals are Majesty Gardens and Upper Room Church in the Western Division, and Arnett Gardens Rockers and Exed Heats in the Southern Basketball League Eastern Division.
Both Majesty Gardens and Arnett Gardens Rockers are 1-0 leaders of their respective divisions.
On Sunday last Arnett Gardens Rockers baulked Exed Heats 86-65 in game one to lead the series in the Southern Basketball League Eastern Division best-of-three finals. Following the presentation of the Howard McCatty Cup, Majesty Gardens kept their unbeaten run intact by also taking a 1-0 lead over Upper Room Church in their opening match of the Western Divisional finals at the Majesty Gardens Courts, triumphing 63-52.
Both Upper Room and Majesty Gardens shared four quarters, however, Majesty Gardens with their superior first and third quarter dominance did enough to stave off a late surge from Upper Room Church 19-10, 9-19, 21-8, 12-15.
Havanda Dunn led the way with 24 points for Majesty Gardens, while Maurice Blackwood had 10 points and 15 rebounds, and Lamont Lindsay contributed nine points.
Jermaine Brown with 11 points, Dwayne Pottinger with nine points and Astley Marshall, also with nine points made a valiant attempt in the final quarter but the ‘bird’ had already flown the coop.
The Eastern and Western Divisions finalists will continue with their second game at the Upper Room Church Courts this evening, with Exed Heats facing Arnett Gardens Rockers in the opener at 6:15 pm, and Upper Room Church going up against Majesty Gardens in the feature at 8:00 pm.