St Joseph’s Girls clinch under-17 cager title

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

St Joseph’s Balika, Nugegoda walked away with the under-17 girls ‘A’ division Basketball championship trophy with a thrilling win over Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya in the final match at the St. Lawrence’s courts, Wellawatta yesterday.

Familians, with the advantage of hieght played an aggressive game in the first quarter scored 13 points as Josephians struggled to open their account very lately and managed to score eight points. Bambalapitoya girls dominated the first half and the half time score 32-18 leading way head.

Josephians fought back eagerly in the second half and brought the score to 43-33 trailing by ten points in the end of the third quarter. Nimesha Thathsarani who was adjudged as the most valuable player of the tournament broke the familian defense with back to back lay ups made inroads to the game in the latter part of the third quarter. Nimesha made the score 47 all with a free shot in the final quarter. Keyasha Siriwardena who grabbed a basket in the last minuet brought the scores to 50-49, bringing Familians to the lead again.

With cheers from the spectators Nimesha scored the final basket to clinch victory for Josephians just 14 seconds to finish the game with the final scores 51-50.

Nimesha scored 28 points and Nethmi Indusara added 10 points to the victorious team while Keyasha and Melissa Dunuvila belted 15 and 12 points respectively for the Familians.

Meanwhile St Lawrence’s Convent, Wellawatte comfortably won the consolation finals against Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo (52-19) became the 2nd runner up in the tournament. St. Lawrence’s captain Natasha Perera played an aggressive game collecting 36 points. Dilanka Yatawara and Dilanjalee Samarasekera added six points and five points to the Sirimavo girls. St. Lawrence’s girls never allowed the rivals to come to the lead, kept the score 27-11 in the half time stage.

Archdeacon Director of Catholic Education and General Manager of Private Catholic Schools Rev. Fr. Ranjith Madurawela was the chief guest at the award ceremony.

Resultts

Champion - St. Joseph’s girls School, Nugegoda

1st runner up - Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya

2nd runner up - St Lawrence’s Convent, Wellawatte

Special Awawrds

Most Valuable Player of the tournament

Nimesha Thathsarani (St. Joseph’s girls School, Nugegoda)

Best Offensive Player

Keyasha Siriwardena (Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya)

Best Defensive Player

Mishika Hirushi (St. Joseph’s girls School, Nugegoda)