Persto Praesto crash b-ball party

Persto Praesto Youth Development and Apprenticeship Centre signalled a new era in the NGC/Express Schools Basketball League when they captured the Under-20 title. It was the most coveted crown in the competition and the Freeport boys beat North Zone champs Queen’s Royal College 74-66 in the national final on Friday to create history. The St .Paul’s Street Facility was transformed as the Persto Praesto swarm descended on the area with a lively rhythm section that did not relent until well into the evening. Their triumph was against a QRC team which had worked itself into the game with a string of hard fought wins all week.

Persto Praesto presented the most energetic of all teams in the national competition with four players, Donny Lyons (11) and Darryl Lyons (15), Kern Norville (14) and the sublime Casey Williamson with a match-high 28 points, putting QRC under some extreme pressure. The rhythm section made sure that the mental half of QRC’s game was off often breaking into cacaphonic sojourns when they stepped to the free throw line or when they had possession of the ball. Despite the unfamiliar conditions in a familiar location the valiant QRC guard of Lori Adams (25), Dean Williams (26) and Jared Sampson (10) led by captain Darren Cowie never gave in to the urgings of the overwhelming support for their opponents.

For his effort throughout the season and especially in the final, Persto Praesto’s Casey Williamson was named the national Under-20 division’s “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) 2004. Jabari Phillip, the Under-17 division MVP, made a strong case for the accolade with a performance in the final against St Augustine Senior Comprehensive that included the match-high 25 points and saw the “Tigers” to a 66-51 win. Phillip was perched on four fouls late in the third quarter and was evidently spent due to a whirlwind week of basketball. His captain Anton Francis put in 17 points to ease the burden and the usually docile giant Ajuma Jaramogi surprised all with 14 points and a strong effort in the centre of offence and defence.

For St Augustine who were equally matched with their opponents, Tigan Pemberton had 12, Stefan Dillon got 10, Ansil Williams scored 10 and Bevon Julien put in eight but their efforts could not deny St Anthony’s coach Stevens Leonce his first Under-17 title. After the game Leonce, who has been a coach since 1977, stated that the 2003-2004 St. Anthony’s College Under-17 team is the best team he has ever guided despite it not being the most skillful team he has coached. The 2004 season, according to the dedicated coach, has been a “dream” and attributed this to the determination of his charges. To this end he describes as a pleasure the prospect of returning to coach the defending champs in 2005.

Earlier Leonce secured his first title of the day when the Excel Composite team, which he also serves as head coach, rammed Barataria Junior Secondary out of the final with a slim 57-50 win over the eastern champs. Excel successfully defended the North Zone Under-15 crown and progressed to the national championship with ease. Marcus Alert who has been the strongest arm of the Excel attack scored 27 points while Marvin Murray had 10 and Hashim Arcia put in 16. Barataria trailed 27-23 at the half and closed this margin with Alzindor Lashley scoring 10, Marcus Hume putting in 21, and Akil Strose scoring eight but they were not able to go the distance against Leonce’s younger championship team.

Mucurapo Senior Secondary were casual in their approach but the final scoreline would not reveal it as they ended 38-25 winners over Fyzabad Composite in the Girls Open Division. Affeisha Noel notched 18 points and Candace Nelson provided 10. Mucurapo led 20-14 at the half due to some sharp play by Fyzabad’s Kerissa Harris who ended on 11 and Magdalene Tracey who put in 10 but the tone of the second half was one of zero—tolerance and Mucurapo eventually cruised home ahead of their smaller opponents. Signal Hill Senior Secondary School the only Tobago team in the finals did not disappoint the people back home and beat Toco Composite 25-17 after being down 9-4 at the end of the first half of the Girls Under-15 Division final. Tanisha Smart scored eight points and Kennya Cordner put in a match-high nine points for the Tobago representatives while Toco’s Skatisha Charles had eight points.