The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

New Providence Women’s Basketball Association (NPWBA) heads into its Final Four this week as the league’s perennial contenders vie for the 2014 title.

Both best-of-three series tip off tonight (Tuesday, March 11) at the DW Davis Gymnasium. In one half of the bracket, the top seeded Career Builder Cheetahs, with the league’s top record at 12-2, will take on the fourth seeded Super Value Cybot Queens (10-4).

In the other semifinal, the Johnson Lady Truckers (11-3) will take on the defending champion Bommer G Operators who claimed the final playoff spot at 10-4.

The Cheetahs, led by league scoring champion Phylicia Kelly and her 19.5 points per game, look to complete the season on a successful note as they play in honour of former teammate Audrey Martin who passed away in January.

The Cheetahs swept the regular season series against the Queens 2-0, both times by a nine point margin of victory.

In the first matchup, they won 79-70 led by Kelly’s 31 points, eight rebounds and seven steals while Tracey Lewis led the Queens with 23 points and nine rebounds.

In game two, the Cheetahs won 68-59 and Kelly finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Taneil Poitier led the Queens with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

The Truckers also topped the Operators in both regular season matchups, led by Latoya Rolle, the league’s leading rebounder and one of only two players to average a double double at 14.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per game.

In the first meeting, they won 63-51, led by Latoya Rolle’s 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Diasti Delancey led the Operators with 13 points.

The second meeting was a much closer contest, but Rolle again led the way to a 70-67 win with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Sherelle Cash led the Operators with 15 points.

Game three in each series takes place Thursday March 13, while game three (if necessary) will take place on Saturday, March 15.

The College of the Bahamas Caribs finished four games behind in the playoff race at 6-8, while Dee Saints followed in the sixth position at 3-11.

Both the Defence Force Waves and Bahamas Information Access Systems Arawaks finished the season at 2-12.