Conference to focus on pollution

Detour Shak Attack will come up against favourites Defence Force in the two-match finals of the Barry Stewart Invitational "Big Six" Basketball Tournament hosted by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) on Thursday at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

This after the Laventille-based team swept aside Petro Jazz 100-89 on Saturday, and then outplayed Police 83-62 on Sunday to top the three-team semifinal round-robin series at the same venue last weekend.

In Saturday’s triumph over the southern-based Petro Jazz, veteran forward Andy Best led Shak Attack with 20 points, laced with four three pointers.

The quartet of Kern George with 18 points, Wilt Vincent (17), Kurt 'Koto' Christian (14) and Reynold "Pie" Hospedales (12) were also in double-figure figures as their team led 24-21 and 47-45 at the end of the first two quarters, before blowing open the contest by outscoring their opponents 34-21 in the third period.

Key to Shak Attack’s win was its shooting from behind the three-point line in which George added three, and the duo of Christian and Hospedales, sank two each.

For Petro Jazz, Mario Davis in his role as player/coach did his best to keep his team in the match with a match-high 23 points which included six three pointers.

Point-guard Adrian Joseph also recorded 23 points for Petro Jazz with two three pointers, while Kevin Sergeant had four in his tally of 18 points.

A day later, Shak Attack got 20 points from Christian with two three-pointers, while the diminutive point-guard Kenneth Roberts and George, added 16 and 13 points respectively in the team's 21-points victory.

Forward Ronell "Fig" Winters, had the hot hands for Police with 20 points, centres Dextroy Manswell Don Wilkinson scored 14 and 13 points respectively in a losing effort.

Defence Force earned its spot in the title match after it topped the six-team round-robin series with a 4-1 record and nine points, one ahead of Shak Attack (3-2).

When the round-robin concluded on Thursday last, the quartet of Petro Jazz, Police, Maloney Pacers and Straker Nets all ended with 2-3 record and seven points.

However, based on its plus-29 points difference among the four teams in head-to-head matches, Petro Jazz secured third spot ahead of Police (plus-six) to earn the two remaining qualifying spots to the three-team semifinals along with Shak Attack.

Thursday's Matches

First Division:

Third spot playoff: Petro Jazz vs Police, 6.30pm

Finals Game One: Defence Force vs Shak Attack, 8pm

On Saturday:

First Division:

Finals Game Two: Shak Attack vs Defence Force, 7.30pm