… last-four action set for tomorrow
PLAISANCE Secondary, President’s College, Marian Academy and hosts St Stanislaus are the four teams that remain in the 12-team Mashramani Schools’ Basketball Tournament sponsored by United Insurance Guyana Inc. Yesterday’s quarter-finals match-ups played at the Saints Court on a cool day produced a higher intensity of action than was witnessed in the preliminary group stage last week. The second match of the day was by far the closest encounter and ended in a four-point win for the hosts after trailing School of the Nations (SON) for the greater part of the game.
SON raced to a 22-8 lead after 12 minutes of play and made the Saints team look very ordinary as they out-rebounded the hosts at both ends of the board, but then the physical demand of playing without a substitute took its toll on SON.
Kevin Higgins in tandem with Neil Gordon and Darroll Williams spearheaded a Saints turnaround as ten unanswered points were scored to reduce the lead to four points.
SON held on to their lead to end of  the first half 28-23 and on the resumption neither side could find a way to score as missed lay-ups and poor passing at both ends left fans wondering when will a point be scored.
After two minutes and 20 seconds Gordon broke the ice to bring Saints within three points, but SON, led by Dino Choo-wee-Nam, maintained their lead with a number of quick breaks while Saints in their over-exuberance turned the ball over repeatedly, despite employing the full court pressure and winning the ball.
A steal by Higgins and a drive to the basket gave Saints the lead for the first time at 39-38, but it was brief as Marvin Grenada replied, to regain the lead for SON at 40-39.They should have increased it by two more, but Dylan Walker missed an easy lay-up with no one on him.
With the seconds ticking away, both sides missed free-throws and neither relented. Saints’ Gordon then produced a three-pointer to make the score 46-44 in favour of SON. Gordon then dished out for Higgins to tie it.
Higgins then gave Saints the lead with a lay-up only to see Choo-wee-nam level the score at 48-all with an easy tap in. Higgins was again to give Saints a two-point lead with a semi ‘sky hook’ from the key and Gordon did the final rite with an easy lay-up as SON finally surrendered.
Choo-wee-Nam led all scorers with 24 in a losing effort while for Saints it was ‘Three the Hard Way’, Gordon (17), Higgins (16 and Williams (14), that inspired the victory and a meeting in the semis with Plaisance Secondary.
Earlier, Plaisance piloted by National U-19 guard Nikoli Smith made light work of Queen’s College 81-37. Smith had a tournament-high 40 points and was well supported by Wayne Forde 21 and Irwin Nurse 16, For QC, Rajendra Singh netted 18 and Alert Lewis 13.
Also into the last four are President’s College, who had the better of Charlestown Secondary 53-40 after a 24-24 half-time score. Devon Warren top-scored with 20 points and Nyamebekyere Bacchus assisted with 18 for the winners and for the losers Murtland Warde and Kaya Dover had 18 apiece.
President’s College will now face Marian Academy in the other semi-final tomorrow. Marian had little difficulty in getting past the Dominic Vincente-led Guyana Educational Trust College 37-19. Vincente led all scorers with 15  while Tequain Viera had 10 for Marian Academy.