Defending champions Sir Arthur Lewis Community College will go up against St Mary’s College on Thursday, November 6, in the final of the Under-19 boys’ schools’ basketball tournament. The competition, organised by the Ministry of Youth Development & Sports, will conclude at the Beausejour Gymnasium.
SALCC eased past Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, 66-44, in Tuesday’s semifinals. The result might have seemed a foregone conclusion going into the game, but CCSS battled well, leading by five at halftime, before SALCC’s experience and defensive pressure turned the game.
Malik Denis scored 21 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and swiped eight steals. Joel Desrivieres also had a double-double, 16 points and 12 rebounds. Meshach Du Boulay paced CCSS with 25 points and 15 rebounds.
In a rematch of last year’s semifinals, SMC gained revenge on Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School, beating the three-time finalists 50-39.
SCSS were without Alex Longville for the semis, and they suited up just seven players. Longville produced eight points, 12 rebounds, eight steals, and two blocked shots in last week’s quarterfinal win over Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School, but he missed the penultimate round of play with a lower leg injury.
SMC got 23 points from Rollins Estwick, who also contributed seven rebounds and three steals. Jabarie Archibald had 10 points and a massive 14 rebounds, six on the offensive glass. Requelmi Pierre had five points, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists.
For SCSS, Curdin Jones had 16 points, 22 rebounds, and five steals. Chaz Alexander chipped in with 13 points and five steals.
On Thursday, CCSS plays SCSS from 1 p.m. in the third-place playoff. SALCC and SMC will clash for the title from 2 p.m.
