Two-time defending champions Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and three-time finalists Soufrière Comprehensive Secondary School will clash for the Under-19 Secondary School Basketball Championship title next week, following semifinal victories on Tuesday at the Beausejour Gymnasium.
SCSS held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from Leon Hess Comprehensive to secure a 55-53 win in the second semifinal. Soufrière led 27-23 at halftime and blew the contest open with a 21-10 third period to take a 48-33 cushion into the final frame. The Hess boys mounted a late charge, outscoring Soufrière 20-7 in the fourth quarter, but fell two points short.
Tournament-leading scorer Curdin Jones paced Soufrière with 34 points, 33 rebounds, six steals, two blocks, and one assist. Sanchez Felix added six points and 13 rebounds, while Trenton Henry pulled down 11 rebounds to go with three points. Kevon Gills chipped in with five points, six steals, and two rebounds, while Aloysious William contributed six rebounds, five steals, and four assists.
McKhail Feliz led LHCSS with 28 points, including seven makes from three. Sage Lewis recorded a double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks, while Ahlil Cyril contributed eight points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds.
In the opening semifinal, SALCC earned a comfortable 48-29 win over St Mary’s College in a rematch of last year’s final. The men from the Morne led 14-12 after the first quarter, 26-18 at the interval, and 38-25 after three periods before holding SMC to four points in the final quarter.
Nyel Joseph paced SALCC with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Mezan Lewis contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Romuald Wilson had five steals, five rebounds, four points, and three assists. Shayne Edgar added four points, five rebounds, four steals, and four assists.
Jabarie Archibald led SMC with 12 points, six rebounds, six steals, and two blocks. Alex Constantine scored six points, while Rane Gustave had four points, six rebounds, and three assists. Rollins Estwick grabbed eight steals to go with two points, two rebounds, and two blocks.
SALCC controlled the possession battle, taking 13 more field goal attempts than their opponents, thanks to 10 more rebounds and seven fewer turnovers.
(TF)
