The Guyana Secondary School Basketball Assoc-iation (GSSBA) season has quickly become the highpoint of all young basketball enthusiasts countrywide, with players improving drastically every week and playing as though there are in the NCAA final four.
In just the third week of competition, one of most thrilling games of the season took place at the outdoor Burnham Basketball court when underdogs St John’s College staged a stunning victory over Tutorial High school.
Tutorial’s squad consisted of two of the league’s most prolific scorers in Michael Thompson and high-flyer Tyrone Hamid while the St. John’s College squad was a quick compilation of determined players who just seemed keen on winning.
Tutorial was leading at the end of the first- half 13-12 but they may have relaxed after Hamid energized the crowd with two electrifying dunks, one of which he caught off the backboard from a missed lay-up.
However, St. John’s would not go away and their unselfish play and hard work on the offensive glass kept them matching baskets with Tutorial.
At the end of regulation time the score was dead even on 25-25 sending the game into over-time.
Tutorial got off to an early advantage and looked to have the game won as a technical foul against a St. John’s player gave them a five-point lead with the aid of the two clutch free throws.
St. John’s, however, got a sudden burst of energy and attacked the court on both ends to score the five points in the last 30 seconds of over-time including a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game 30-30 at the end of the first OT.
With the momentum on their side, St John’s College became unstoppable in double OT while the Tutorial players seemed fatigued and settled for perimeter shots, none of which were successful and soon they were handed their second straight loss of the season.
Keith Luke scored 14 points, six rebounds and three assists while Dennis Horatio finished with six points, seven rebounds and four steals for the victors.
Leading scorers for Tutorial High were Michael Thompson with 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Hamid who recorded a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds in what may be his last game for Tutorial.
Cummings Lodge Secondary completed a massive 66-39 victory over North Georgetown Secondary on Sunday as three of the players from Cummings Lodge managed double figures.
While Curtly English of North Georgetown Secondary continued his remarkable scoring performance with a game-high 28 points and five rebounds, Cummings Lodge proved that basketball was a team sport extended their six points half time lead to eventually win by 27 points.
North Georgetown’s unsuccessful weekend however, began the day before when they lost to St. Roses High School 20-24.
English was also the leading scorer registering 14 points, four rebounds and three steals, but in the end Kadeem Jacobs of St. Roses who dominated the low post, led his side to victory with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Guyana Trust College defeated Nehemiah Compre-hensive 25-13 led by Frank Prescott of Trust College who scored 16 points and snatched 12 boards.
In the other Sunday afternoon game Leon Prince scored 27 of his team’s 31 points to lead East Ruimveldt to victory over St. Mary’s Secondary.
Despite the desperate efforts of Aris Bhopaul, who scored 12 points, St. Mary’s fell 24-31 to steaming hot East Ruimveldt Secondary school.
In the Linden matchups Westburg Secondary defeated Linden Foundation Secondary 28-20 while Christianburg Secondary defeated Linden Foundation in double overtime 29-27.
In one of the more high scoring games, Mackenzie High School defeated New Silver City High 35-29 with Akeem Konnei leading the way for Mackenzie High with 15 points, four rebounds and eight steals and Omar Sam scoring 10 points, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals for New Silver City High.
New Silver City’s points came mainly from Roscoe Caesar and Trevor Johnson who scored 15 and 14 points respectively.
