THE race is on for the semi-final berths and a tense finish is expected, following the exciting win by New Silvercity Secondary who pipped Linden Foundation Secondary 58-57.

But defending champions Linden Technical Institute remained focused, playing their final preliminary game, to gain a semifinal berth, by beating Mackenzie High 50-43 as play finally resumed in this year’s Linden Secondary Schools Under-19 basketball championship, Monday, at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
The Linden Amateur Basketball Association-organised championship’s first game was a close one between New Silvercity Secondary and Linden Foundation Secondary. New Silvercity Secondary, led by their forward Selwyn Noble with 25 points, 14 from Kelson Butters and Royden Wilson 12, now have four points with two games left after gaining their first win.
Linden Foundation Secondary’s main player Vibert Benjamin led the scoring with 36 points, but this was not enough as the only other playing making any real contribution was Dennis Niles with eight.
The winners had overturned a two-point deficit at the break as they were down 31-29.
In the second game the four-time winners Mackenzie High continued their unimpressive run, going down this time 50-43 to Linden Technical Institute who led at half-time 26-17.
The Linden Technical Institute must credit their win to three players who had double-figure scores – Ron Gill (11), Ian Williams and Gavin Gasper both with 10 points. However it was the Mackenzie High School’s Osafa Headley who had the game-high 16 points.
Two more matches are set for today at  the MSC hard court. At 14:30hrs Linden Foundation Secondary will play the unbeaten Wisburg and the second at 16.00hrs is between another unbeaten side Wismar/Christianburg ‘Multi’ who will face New Silvercity Secondary.
The final set of matches in this opening round is set for Friday at the same venue.
Maxie Stephens, a United States-based Guyanese, who has been supporting the tournament throughout the years, donated ten of the twelve individual trophies which will be on offer. Another United Sates-based Guyanese and former national coach Linden Alphonso was instrumental in getting other sponsors overseas including the Haynes Foundation to come on board; while locally the sponsors include Two Brothers Gas Station who sponsored the uniforms for the competing schools and once again local beverage giant Banks DIH.
Alphonso has also donated the two Most Valuable Player trophies for the two MVPs in the final.