Trinity cager champions

BASKETBALL: Trinity College emerged champions at the inter school zonal under 15 basketball tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association and worked off in Kandy recently.

Trinity College defeated Ratnayake MV Menikhinna 70-59 in the final with teams from Kandy, Kurunegala, Kegalle and Badulla participating in this tournament.

In fact CIS, Kandy posed a major threat in the semifinals but a dramatic three point basket by Trinity captain Indrachapa Kuruppuarachchi in the final seconds gave Lions their fourth straight win with a 50-49 victory.

Trinity, St. Anne's, Azar College, Walala A. Rathnayaka MMV, CIS - Kandy, Kegalu Vidyalaya and St. Anthony's College took part in the tournament.

Trinity marched forward as champions by beating St. Anthony's 44 - 30, Azar 56 - 35 and St. Anthony's 61 - 65. In the semi-finals they got the better of by CIS 50 - 49.

In the other semifinals St. Anne's overpowered CIS 55 - 32 to become the second runner up. In the final showdown, Walla A. Rathnayaka was comprehensively beaten by the Lions 70-59.

Bandula Wijewardhana of Wallala A. Rathnayaka MMV was adjudged the Best Defensive Player and Indrachapa Kuruppuarachchi of Trinity as the Best offensive player. Randeel Senevirathna of Trinity College was named the Most Valuable Player with the most number of baskets in hand.

Trinity team was represented by Indrachapa Kuruppuarachhi, Yasas Chandrasiri, Delukshan Sathivel, Manoj Bandara, Thilina Bandara, Maduka Fernando, Srishanker Paskaranathan, Randeel Senevirathna, Thusara Warapitiya, Yashodha Senerathna, Pramith Fransis, J. Ahilan, Kasun Senarathna, Prathap Costa, Akalanka Tennakoon, Nisal Wijesiri and Lahiru Ududeniya.

It was their Master-in-Charge, K.P.S. Chandrasiri and the youthful coach, Ranura Nanayakkara who did the most needful behind the scene.