Lyceum, Nugegoda clinches cager title
Angu RAJENDRAN
Electrifying! That is how the last ten minutes of the All Island
South zone basketball finals could be described. It was the best of
games; it was the worst of games. It was a thriller through and through
with every miss and every basket made.
While the crowd was on their feet throughout the last quarter
screaming for Lyceum or St Sebastians, the players of both sides played
with fierceness combined with tension never seen before.
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Nirosh Wijesinghe |
Missed passes were galore as players of both sides gave in to
nervousness. So many under-the- basket shots were missed too. Both sides
fouled in desperation. Sebs more than Lyceum. St Sebastian's tallest and
key player Rajin Fernando was even benched with five fouls in the third
quarter. But the pace of the game never slowed.
Two teams were well matched in every aspect - height, speed, passing
and shooting.
The score in the last four minutes of the game stood at 44-all for at
least three minutes. About two-thirds of a winning team's points in the
final minute typically come from the free-throw line,? says expert
statistical analyst Professor Ray Stefani of California State
University. And it was so true of this game.
With seven seconds left of the game and the score at 48/47 in favour
of Lyceum, the ball was dead in the hands of substitute player Pubudu of
St Sebastians. The match winning free throws were Pubudu's to make.
Prayers were whispered by players of both sides. Pubudu missed the first
free throw. And then the second. The ball was in play and the whistle
blew to end the game.
Lyceum Nugegoda had won the Sri Lanka Schools South Zone tournament
for Under 17 boys.
Something that came free became so costly for the Sebs.
Free throws will never be missed again by the Sebastian boys.
Completely surprised to receive the Most Valuable Player award was
Nirosh Wijesinghe of Lyceum Nugegoda. But Nirosh was the only player who
kept his head on his shoulders through all four quarters.
Taking both offensive and defensive rebounds, ball handling and top
scoring with 18 points while captain Rajitha Hettiarachchi also of
Lyceum Nugegoda scored 14 points and was declared the Best Offensive
Player.
For the losers Chamath top scored with 13 and Amesh 9. Best Defensive
Player was Prashant Afonso from St Sebastians. |
