The final match of the Group C was played yesterday between Royal College vs. Maristella College – Negombo after being postponed from the original date due to inclement weather. Darley Road boys running amok in the defense of the counterparts scored 90-69 and topped the group.
Royal College won the traditional jump ball and drew first blood in the first possession. Lads from Darley Road played positive basketball pushing the defense of the counterparts out of the comfort zone. They were tested in all aspects of defense as the home lads scored most of their points inside the arc through set shots. The Royalists were on the top of the cards in the rebounding factor as they made sure all the second chances were converted into points at the end. It was a miserable ten minutes for the Maristella boys as nothing went their way. Shots were way out of target and they just bounced over the rim out of bounds. Royalists led the game 28-10 at the end of the first.
Home lads stepped into the court for the second quarter and they continued to show dominance in every aspect of the game. Playing wide across the court they used fast breaks to score most of the points this quarter. The defense of the Royalists was not the best but since the Maristella lads did not have a clear plan in offense, it saved the day for Royal. The lads from Negombo should have looked to pass the ball through the lanes. They could have also used the pick and roll strategy since it was a man-to-man defense from the Reid-Avenue boys. Still trying to find momentum in the game, Maris Stella were way off rhythm and needed a change of strategy.
Half time – Royal College – 47 Maristella College – 25
After the ten minute break Maristella College opted for a full court trap which did work in their favour for a considerable time until the long passes were dished out by Royal and it dismantled the defense outright. It was the defense that cost the game for the Negombo lads. Even though they did try to keep their pace up in offense, they were leaking many points from the other end.
Rebounds were never in the hands of the visitors and it gave the chance to the Royalists to run the fast break as if it was child’s play. The other factor that made easy the lives of the Royalists was Maris Stella’s transition from defense to offense. It was as slow as an old volkswagen.
Maristella College failing to find touch in the game suffered a humiliating loss by over twenty points.
Full time – Royal College – 90 Maristella College – 69
ThePapare.com player of the match – Visal Pinto (Royal College)
