2009 Junior CASA Championships…
RAPHAEL deGroot and Deje Dias ensured Guyana Boys’ Team reached the final of the 2009 Junior Caribbean Squash Championships which climax today in Barbados.

According to reports, with Guyana trailing 0-2 and staring defeat in the face, deGroot played aggressive squash from the start of his Under-19 #1 match against Noah Browne and never let his opponent into the match by pouncing on anything short or loose. He was able to close out Browne in three, winning 11-7, 11-5, 11-8.

It was then up to the dependable Deje Dias against Chris Stout in the #2 Under-19 match-up.

Dias has developed quite a reputation for being a big-match performer and Friday night was no exception. Before he walked onto the court he turned to his coach Carl Ince and said: “I got this”, reports stated.

He then proceeded to scratch and scrape and dive his way to a tie clinching 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8) victory over Stout.

Then the youngest member of the Guyanese team, Nyron Joseph, sealed the deal in fine style to ensure Guyana face Trinidad and Tobago in both the Boys’ and Girls’ Team finals today.

Joseph won 11-3, 11-6, 11-2.

Earlier on Friday evening, Steven Xavier showed why he is the most improved member of the Guyana team when he came from 0-2 down to almost upset Beau Orchard.

He even fought off several match balls before the Bermudan clinched the opening victory for his team, winning 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8.

Alex Arjoon also had Under-17 champion Micah Franklyn on the ropes in both the second and third games, but a broken ball in the third allowed an obviously exhausted Franklyn just enough rest to mount a comeback and close out Arjoon in the third.

The Bermudan won 11-6, 11-9, 12-10.
Meanwhile, Guyana are favoured in the Girls’ final, but Trinidad are narrow favourites in the Boys’ final.
The final results will also determine the overall Team champions.