Youth basketball…Defending champion Marian Academy knocked out

Defending national U-19 champions Marian Academy failed to defend their title, losing to Plaisance Academy 35-27 when the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) 9th National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday.

Needing a win to keep their hopes alive of a place in the semi-final round, the Carifesta Avenue unit fell agonizingly short as they struggled to get going offensively.

Malcolm Powdar led the winners with seven points and as many rebounds while Terrence Daniels assisted with six points and eight rebounds.

Kwakwani Secondary also sealed their berth in the semi-final stage, crushing President’s College 61-40. Stanton Rose led the scoring for the winners with 15 points, four steals, five assists and as many rebounds.

He was assisted by Leonard Primo who netted 12 points and collected seven rebounds. Continuing in the same section, the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) also qualified for the final four stage, mauling the St. Stanislaus College 47-26.

Registering a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win was Edmar Semple while Shemroy Mckenzie supported with 11 points. Travis Belgrave led the losers with 13 points and eight rebounds.

The final team to qualify for the semi-final round was the University of Guyana as they defeated Bishops’ High 54-52. Jonathan Pooran led the way with 22 points while Daniel Ramlagan netted 18 points.

In the U-16 section, St. Rose’s High crushed President’s College 53-30. Nathan Saul led all scorers with 16 points. He was assisted by Shamar Huntley who netted nine points and collected 11 rebounds. Recording figures of 10 points and six rebounds in the loss was Leon Harte.

The final match-up in the division saw Bishops’ High led by a Timothy Thompson double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds, defeating Plaisance Academy 49-41.

Assisting with nine points and seven rebounds in the win was Terrence Joe.

Andrew Johnson led the losers with 14 points and three steals.

In the U-14 division, Marian Academy defeated St. Stanislaus College 22-10. Jahleel Young was the chief scorer for the winners with nine points and 14 rebounds.

Contributing with six points was Josiah Daniels. Gordon Trotman led the losers with three points and 10 rebounds. The second match-up of the section saw St. Rose’s High earning a walkover victory against the Bishops’ High.