MACKENZIE High School (MHS) won their fifth Linden Secondary Schools’ Under-19 basketball championship blotting out Linden Foundation Secondary 57-34, as best player Daniel Anthony in a superb performance earned the Most Valuable Player award getting 19 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and three rebounds in the process, when the final was played at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court last Monday.Among those who witnessed the final were the Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) Senior Physical Education Officer Lindley Langhorne and United States-based Lindeners – Linden Alphonso, Lennox Allicock, Kenneth Chapman, Maxie Stephens, Marlon Josiah, Orin Louison, who have all been sponsoring the championship over the ten years of its existence and assisted in the presentation of the prizes including trophies, replicas and medals to the various winners at the conclusion of the tournament.
Linden Foundation looked like they were in the upset mode against the unbeaten Mackenzie High School as they led 17-4 at the end of the first quarter through the offensive thrust by Isaiah Semple who had scored six points in that period.
However, Mackenzie High were able to gather their forces together and when the first half ended the Mackenzie High were ahead 20-18. With Anthony and Allister Lewis showing their worth going to the basketball, Mackenzie High continued their control of the game and was leading 28-23 when the third period ended.
As the pressure mounted on the undermanned Linden Foundation Secondary, Mackenzie High accelerated their game and ran out easy winners eventually 57-34.
Additionally, Allister Lewis got 16 points and Ron Profitt nine points and 19 rebounds for the winners. Isaiah Semple, named the Most Valuable Player on the losing finalist team, had a game high 21 points, 15 rebounds, 18 steals and two assists in his brilliant showing.
Accounting for the game’s Most Block Shots three, was Akeem Nicholson, and the Most Assists in the final also was done by Daniel Anthony with three, while the Best Rebounder award was taken by Ron Profitt for his 19.
The Most Disciplined School was Christianburg Wismar Secondary and the most points for the tournament was recorded by Anthony with 98, while for the Linden Foundation Secondary it was Semple with 44. Christianburg Wismar Secondary’s Akini Wilson had 66 points and New Silvercity Secondary’s Wayne Wilson got 28 points.
Two players adjudged as the Most Improved received a basketball compliments of Ms. Audrey Singh. They were Christianburg Wismar Secondary’s Daniel Lee and Semple.
The ALL Star Team jerseys, donated by United States based Louis Webster, were given to Anthony Semple, Terron Welch and Dennis Niles of Linden Technical Institute and Amaniki Buntin of Christianburg Wismar Secondary. The Most Valuable Player of the final Daniel Anthony was awarded the Linden Alphonso Trophy and a basketball suit from Macio Couchman who is also based in the United States.
The third place game was won by Christianburg Wismar Secondary over New Silvercity Secondary 45-30.
For the winners Akini Wilson had 19 points and Daniel Lee 14, while for New Silvercity Secondary Cleveland Denny netted nine points and Wayne Wilson eight.
By Joe Chapman