Garden party in Southern basketball league

Kwane Lawrence flourished as he scored a game-high 25 points to lead defending champions Arnett Gardens Rockers to an easy 81-48 victory over Swift Sons in their opening game of the Southern Conference Division One Basketball Championships at the Tony Spaulding Complex on Tuesday.

Lawrence, a former national representative, scored 15 of his 25 points in the second quarter as the Rockers dominated from start to finish.

The Rockers led 42-18 at half-time and 62-33 at the end of the third quarter.

Zandanta Higgins was the leading scorer for the Sons with 11 points.

In the opening match of the double-header, last year's beaten semifinalists Majesty Gardens also recorded their first win of the competition with an exciting 54-52 victory over newcomers Camperdown Giants.

National invitee Havando Dunn led the way for Majesty with a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds.

He received support from Owen McCoy, who added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Raheem Barrett was the main scorer for Camperdown with 14 points.

At the Pembroke Hall Courts, Michael Jackson scored a game-high 17 points to lead the host's 55-34 win over the Jamaica Defence Force.

In the day's other game, Delacree Park blanked newcomers Duhaney Park 20-0.