The Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association hosted the under 19 ‘B’ Division basketball finals and consolation finals at the Zahira College basketball court yesterday (31st October). Zahira College and St. Micheal’s College faced off in the consolation finals while Lyceum Nugegoda and Angel International School faced off in the finals.
Zahira College vs St. Michael’s College
After a close game that went right down the wire St. Michael’s College won in overtime with a score line of 68-63. The skipper for Zahira, Yosuf did the heavy scoring for his team getting 34 points during the game while Diluxan from St. Michael’s was the main offensive player for his team, getting 15 points from downtown.
St. Michael’s had the lead in the first half of the game passing the ball around the court looking for the open man to take a jump shot although Zahira trailed close behind, scoring mainly from fast break opportunities. Zahira had the opportunity to turn the tables on the lads from St. Michael’s but they failed to successfully convert the rebounds they collected to scoring opportunities, leaving them trailing behind St. Michael’s by a point as they went into lemons.
During the second half of the game, the players from St. Michael’s increased the deficit once again during the early parts of the half capitalizing on jump shots. However, they failed to maintain this lead as Zahira turned the tables on St. Michael’s during the final quarter as they equaled the scores. As both teams moved to a full-court press both sides took turns at leading on the scoreboard by taking advantage of the free shots they received. Neither team managed to seal victory during the final quarter as the game went into overtime with the score of 54 all.
Zahira took control of the final few minutes of the game maintaining a marginal lead but towards the latter part of the game, St. Michael’s took back control getting a couple consecutive layups in giving them the spot of the second runner-up in the under 19 division.
Full-time: St. Michael’s- 68 Zahira College- 63
Speaking to the coach of the St. Michael’s team he had this to say after their victory: “It was a good and tough game for us but I think our boys played well considering the fact that this is the first time our school participated in this tournament after a long time we’re glad we could secure the spot of the second runner-up at least.”
Lyceum Nugegoda vs Angel International School
As the game was nearing halftime the officials decided to call it off due to unfavorable weather conditions disrupting play. The final has been postponed to a later date which is yet to be announced.
