The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports concluded the 2024-2025 Schools Under-19 Boys Basketball Tournament on Thursday, with Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) winning the championship game 67-29 over Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS).
Patricia D James Secondary School (PDJSS) came from behind to beat St Mary’s College (SMC) 57-51 at the Beausejour Gymnasium.
In the gold medal matchup, SALCC ran out to an 18-10 lead after the first quarter, with Soufrière spurning opportunities at the line. The advantage for the boys from Morne Fortune ballooned to doubled figures in the second quarter, 23-12, and SALCC never looked back. They finished the season unbeaten, as SCSS lost in the final for the third year straight.
Jazzaniah Blanchard netted 21 points for SALCC. Shekim McRae added eight points and four steals, while Ethan Desriviere had eight points and five rebounds. Joel Desriviere led with seven rebounds in one of the more efficient games SALCC has played this season.
For SCSS, Curdin Jones had eight points, but a massive 14 rebounds, and four steals. Shayne Edgar was all over the court with six points, five boards, five steals, two assists, and a block. Micha Alphonse tallied seven rebounds.
In the third-place playoff, SMC led throughout the first half, but PDJSS took their first lead just before the halfway point of the third quarter, 32-30. SMC soon tied it up again, but the La Clery lads held on to their slim advantage, Junior Dupre shaking off a defender and sinking a contested jumper to make it 43-40 after three.
SMC tied it up at 44 with 7:40 to go. PDJSS split consecutive trips to the line before Dupre again extended their lead to four with two quick baskets. With just two losses on their record for the season, to the two finalists, PDJSS held on for the win.
Dupre flew in from Venezuela the night before, his flight getting in at about midnight. He finished the competition with the most points (137) and assists (23), finals MVP, and regular season MVP. In the third-place match, he tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds. Maliq Mitchell added 12 points and 15 rebounds, and Barnett Bledman eight points and eight steals.
For SMC, Zahir Leslie had a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks. Nyle Joseph had 12 points before fouling out.
Imani Gonzague of Entrepot Secondary School ended the tournament with 32 steals. Joshua Deroses of Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School finished with 91 rebounds.
