Sanjaya Ariyaratne

St. Joseph's Girls' School, Nugegoda and St. Joseph's College, Maradana emerged girls and boys champions at the Western Province Under 19 Cager Championships worked off in Colombo last weekend.

This is the second victory for Josephian girls this year as they went onto clinch the under 19 A division title earlier in the all island girls basketball tourney concluded in Colombo a few weeks ago.

In the final St. Joseph's girls posted a 69 points to 41 win over Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya after taking a close 31 points to 28 lead at breather played at St. Joseph's School, courts, Nugegoda. Dilrufa Samath (16) and Sanduni Udeshika (8) were the best shooters for the winners while Kalpashakya Ranasinghe (15) and Maiheesha Mahawalage (13) stood out for the losers.

St. Joseph's College, Maradana beat St. Peter's College by 57 points to 52 in the boys final played at Maradana.

For the winners the top scorers were Lakshan with 22 points and Ashen with 18. For St. Peter's College the main scorers were Lakshan 18 points and Shenal 16. In the girls consolation final St. Paul's School, Milagiriya swamped Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena by 52 points 23.

In the early matches St. Joseph's Girls School beat Good Shepherd Convent by 53 points to 44 after being ahead with 24 points to 20 at half time.

Sirimavo BV beat St. Paul's School by a narrow 58 points to 57 after trailing 27 points to 34 at the short whistle.