National junior basketball player Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai poured in a game high 32 points to propel the Mackenzie High School (MHS) to the quarter-finals of this year’s National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Up high, down hard! MHS star player Akeem Kanhai executes a one-handed slam during the first half of their clash with Charlestown Secondary. (Orlando Charles photo)

MHS steamrolled Charles-town Secondary 70-29 and in the process maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament.

From jump ball the crowd knew that they would be treated to another accentuated performance by the 17-year-old high school star as he opened the scoreboard with a long range three pointer.

After the opening two minutes of the game, it was obvious that Charlestown would be taken for a long ride by MHS as Kanhai pounded away on their flimsy defence and also sent home three thunderous dunks.

The Linden school  ended the first half with a 31 points lead (39-8).

In the second half, Coach Naylon Loncke tried to put a triple team defence on Kanhai but using his excellent dribbling skills and speed, he was able to deviate and continue his onslaught.

Three more hard one-handed slams in traffic put the icing on the cake and a strong message to the other schools that MHS meant business as they sunk their opponents by a massive 41 points.

Apart from Kanhai’s smashing performance, Sheldron Noel had 11 and Deval Wilson finished with ten. Only Murtland Warde was able to touch double digits for Charlestown with 17 points.

In the other under-19 games played yesterday, Bishops’ High redeemed themselves from their first game one point lost to Linden Technical Institute (LTI) with a 77-14 points drubbing of Queen’s College.

Sean Lashley shot a game high 21 points while Tesric Rambisson and Wainright Haynes contributed with 17 and 16 points respectively. For Queen’s College Raymond Singh was their highest scorer with seven points.

The losing effect for Queen’s College seemed to have trickled down to their under-17 team as they went down to Kwakwani Secondary by an overwhelming 81-9.

The school from the Berbice River had won the under-19 championship in 2007 but it is now on a rebuilding phase.

Dominique Douglas netted 23 points and Keswhan Thomas had 11 in a game where all of their players found themselves on the score sheets. Rajendra Singh with five points ended up being the highest scorer for Queen’s College.

Still in the under-17 championships of the tournament, Marian Academy secured a 27-22 points victory over School of the Nations.

Tequain Vieira led Marian’s attack with nine points while Jonathon Pooran scored a game high 12 points in a losing cause.

Meanwhile, Tutorial High School went down to Plaisance Community High School 17-35 in the under-15 championships and West Demerara defeated Saint Stanislaus College 28-13.

Cummings Lodge were also winners on the day in the division as they easily disposed of the New Campbellville Secondary 41-13.

So far in the under-19 ‘Big ten’ championships, all of the pre-tournament favourites have marched into the quarter-finals.

Apart from MHS, President’s College and the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) are the only undefeated teams to advance. The other schools so far are Bishops’ High and Charlestown Secondary.

The tournament will continue today with games in all three categories.