The Amelia’s Ward Jets ended their basketball year on a winning note by defeating the Kashif and Shanghai Kings on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard-court to capture the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) second division crown.

The Jets’ superior line-up which featured former junior national players Javon Nelson and Dennis Anderson along with junior national captain, ‘The Dream’ Akeem Kanhai and the ‘Little Monster’ Shane Webster, proved too strong for the Kings who folded 33-56.

Kings had gotten past Wismar Pistons 66-59 while the Jets thrashed the Bulls 71-69 in the semi-finals.

In the final it was obvious from jump ball, that the Kings were no match for the Jets as the Amelia’s Ward team outclassed their opponents in every department rushing to an 18-point lead (28-10) at lemon time.

And, though the Kings’ team included junior national and sharp shooter Orin ‘Six Head’ Rose, his impact on the game was limited through the tight defence of the Jets and he only managed 12 points, the only player from his team to reach double digits.

Webster, the well-built Jets’ centre, led all scorers with 15 points while Anderson and Kanhai chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively as the Jets handed the Kings their only defeat of the tournament.

In the third place play-off, Wismar Pistons tamed the Bulls 64-52.

The Bulls held the Pistons to a one point lead at half-time (30-31) but the Pistons began firing on all cylinders in the second half and, taking the Bulls by their horns, ran out comfortable winners.

Stryon Obermuller fired in 14 points for the winners while Keon Cameron, 15 and Shane Lewis, 11 points, were the two primary scorers for the Bulls.

The end of the tournament marks the conclusion of the LABA basketball season for 2009 and action will resume in mid January with the regulation tournament followed by the first division league where Victory Valley Royals are the defending champions.