Following the quarterfinal round of play on Thursday at the Beausejour Gymnasium, the final four is set for the Under-19 Schools Basketball Tournament. The semifinals will have a familiar feel, featuring as they do recent champions and podium finishers. Defending champions Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, losing finalists St Mary’s College, Soufrière Comprehensive, and Leon Hess Comprehensive all recorded quarterfinal victories to advance.
LHCSS defeated Castries Comprehensive Secondary School 36-22 in a defensive battle. The Hess boys led 18-12 at halftime. A 13-2 surge in the third period put the game out of reach for CCSS.
Sage Lewis led LHCSS with a game-high 17 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Mikhail Felix added 16 points. David Chandler paced CCSS with seven points and eight rebounds, while Jahvante Serrette pulled down 10 rebounds.
Three-time finalists SCSS cruised past Beanefield Comprehensive 66-9. Soufrière held a 32-6 cushion at halftime before blanking Beanefield in the fourth 16-0).
Tournament-leading scorer Curdin Jones paced Soufrière with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals. Felix Sanchez supported with 12 points and nine steals, whilst Aloysious William had eight points and nine steals. Marlik Neptune led Beanefield with five points, while Stephen Hayle had six steals and two blocks.
SMC overcame a close opening period to turn back Entrepôt Secondary 45-19. SMC led 11-10 after the first quarter before breaking the contest open with a 20-2 second period to lead 31-12 at the interval.
Jabarie Archibald paced SMC with 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals, four assists, and two blocks. Rollins Estwick contributed nine points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, while Rane Gustave added 10 points. Cersim Alexander led Entrepôt with eight points.
Two-time defending champions SALCC secured their semifinal berth with a victory over Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary. Mezan Lewis starred for the men from the Morne, with 23 points, eight rebounds, and six steals. Shaynne Edgar chipped in with 12 points, eight boards, and four steals.
Cyrilon Cyris led Vieux Fort with 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Nicholas Thomas added four points and four steals, while Noah Blenman recorded three blocks.
The semifinal matchups will see SALCC face off against St Mary’s College in a rematch of last year’s championship decider, while Soufrière Comprehensive square off against Leon Hess Comprehensive.
