QRC dunk Fatima for b-ball crown

Queen’s Royal College (QRC) steadied themselves against Fatima College, got into their free flowing style of play and then took the NGC/Express School’s Basketball League North Zone Under-20 title. They beat Fatima 62-56 in the final on Tuesday at the St Paul’s Street Sport Facility in Port-of-Spain to underline their strength this season. On paper both teams were equal to the task and this was probably one of the best match-ups that this season could produce with only one determining factor —- QRC had been the only team to beat Fatima during the season. Despite Fatima’s form coming into the final this fact could not be ignored. From the tip it was evident that both teams would not relent till the final whistle as QRC’s Lori Adams and captain Darren Cowie countered the urgings of Jason Sharpe and Akinola Simon for Fatima.

Sharpe was undeterred and went on to score a match and personal season high 38 points which was the only score on the card for his team as main members of the Fatima attack failed to deliver on their season long promise of the title. QRC’s defence was to be commended as only on few occasions in the match did they lapse. Instead they kept Fatima sharp with the promise of quick steals and fast break points if they did not. Adams scored 16 points, Jared Sampson had 15 and Sean Williams put in 10 as Cowie marshaled his troops on the court and to some well-deserved silverware. Earlier St Anthony’s College kept it together in their Under-17 final against final first-timers International School of Port-of-Spain (ISPOS). No player fouled out and the leaders did their job to see the hard working team realise the reward of one of their toughest seasons to lift the North Zone Under-17 title with a 75-68 final scoreline.

The usually temperamental Jabari Phillip managed to only pick up three fouls without sacrificing his aggression to score a healthy 38 points.
Anton Francis, always a support to the St Anthony’s team played his role to perfection scoring 16 points but assisting many of his team-mates on their way to the basket. ISPOS led 35-30 at the half and looked the better team going into the break but St Anthony’s coach Steven Leonce must have said all the right things to this charges as they looked a different squad altogether on the resumption. With a host of raw talent and an uncanny knack for slipping out of tight spots, ISPOS were the ideal test for St Anthony’s and ISPOS’ Daniel Temple with 20 points and Luther Wilson with 25 made sure they were always in the running for the title.

They however could not produce the final push to victory. Excel Composite and Malick Secondary battled for the third position in the Under-17 division with last year’s champs finding their form a little later than expected and emerging 83-60 winners over a depleted Malick team. Excel’s Marcus Alert scored 21, Michael Sandiford put in 20 and Josimar Phillip sank 13 while James Phillip put in 25 points and Jevon Cabral scored 19 for Malick. Last season’s Under-20 champions Tranquillity Secondary crashed to a 68-56 loss to Morvant/Laventille Secondary School in the third place match, as Dylaun Skeete sparkled with 31 and  Anthony Husbands put up 14. Husbands, who may be the Under-20 MVP on merit of a season of high scoring and general team leadership, took a backseat to team inspiration Skeete as Tranquil’s Keron Andrews with 12, Kern Samuel with 14 and Che Edwards with 20 pushed in vain for the win.