Pepsi National Schools’ Basketball …

THE Pepsi National Schools’ Basketball Festival once more produced some entertaining and thrilling play as the nation’s schoolboys tussled last night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

In the first match President’s College (PC), who went into the tournament with an underdog tag, sprung a surprise attack on Plaisance Community High who could not respond to the bite of the school of excellence.

Plaisance had won their previous encounter but President’s College ‘produced the goods’ when it mattered most.

The 49-35 victory booked them a place in the semifinals in what has turned out to be an exciting tournament albeit the poor attendance of schools.

PC’s point guard Richard Mohandat was once more at the centre of his team’s victory. Though his five points might say one thing, his creation of plays, ball control, assisting and rebounding said otherwise.

PC jumped to an early 8-0 lead in the game thanks to some lay-ups from top scorer Willon Cameron (20 points) and Joel Joseph who contributed 12 points.

Plaisance mounted an assault and their fast play had PC taking difficult shots allowing them to close within one point.

However the fluctuating PC managed to go into the break 31-28 ahead. At the start of the second half Plaisance closed the gap to one point, but PC found their stride and opened a 6-point lead that they managed to increase to 14 at the final buzzer. Point guard Shagola Bentick once more led the Plaisance team with 16 points.

Meanwhile Bishops’ High School tried to follow in President’s College path, to turn the tables on a team that beat them earlier on.

They played with great heart and discipline but came up short, losing agonisingly 41-43 to Wismar-Christianburg Multilateral (Multi).

Multi dominated most of the first half and were comfortably ahead but the city school showed fight and inched within one at the first time-out.

They took a one-point lead subsequently and led by three at one stage but a 7-0 run from Wismar gave the school from Region Ten the lead once more.

The halftime score was 24-19 in favour of Wismar but the possibility of a close finish was always on the cards as little separated the two teams.

The second half saw some exchanges in the lead and with just over two minutes to play the scores were tied at 39. Multi missed two free throws and with a minute remaining the score was still the same. Bishops’ scored within the arc to take the lead and fouled on Multi’s next possession.

But Multi hit one of the two free throws to pull within one.

With 17 seconds remaining Bishops’ were still ahead but a lack of composure from them allowed Multi to score and nudge a point ahead.

With six seconds still on the clock Bishops’ still had an opportunity to get off another shot but they were unable to rise to the occasion and lost possession.

Multi hit one of two free throws to seal the victory and send them into the semifinals. Stravin Ettienne had a game-high 17 points for the victors while Shaun Lashley scored 15 in a losing cause.

Defending champions Kwakwani ensured there were no more upsets or close finishes by clinically disposing of Mackenzie High 45-33.