Sri Lanka Schools team unbeaten
Anuradha ABEYSEKERA
After some exciting basketball games played during the week, Sri
Lanka Schools team were unbeaten winners of the Level I group 'A' while
Mercantile team secured the runner up position in the group. Schoolboys
showed great prowesses in their deciding match against Navy lads, where
they tamed sailors 73-51 on Monday at the Police Depot. The match swayed
in favour of both teams at different stages, but School boys took the
early lead with their speedy playing style in the first
quarter (16-10). Navy tuned up to the rhythm in the second quarter
and posted a one point lead at half way (28-27). Praneeth Udamalagala
who top scored for Schools with 23 points regained the control of the
game with back to back three points in the third quarter. Winners scored
26 points while restricting sailors to 10 points in the third quarter.
Navy tried to slow down the game but school boys carried with the
same fashioned play in the final quarter to win the match with a 22
point lead. Clinton Stallone added 16 points for the winners while Joy
Perera and Sanketha Jayarathna contributed with 12 and 10 points
respectively for the losers.
In the men's Level I group 'B' Colombo District team came in top of
the group while Hambantota District team secured the second place. The
deciding match between Hambantota and Police team played at the St.
Joseph's Girls School on Monday ended with a nail biting finish in favor
of Hambantota team (58-56).
Police men were in the front seat during the first half (23-20) after
dominating the first quarter (12-09). Both teams fought point to point
but Police men controlled the game till the end of third quarter
(42-38). Hambantota lads played with all their skills in the final
quarter and prospected in every unnecessary foul committed by the Police
team. Police men offered too many free shots on fouls and gave away 20
points to the opponents while only scoring 13 points in the last
quarter. Hambantota District won the match with a two-point margin.
Nilanga Wickremarathna scored 11 points while Thiwanka Perera and
Rashmika Lawrance contributed eight points each for the winning team
while K.W.L.N. Indika (15 points) and Sanjeewa Kulamina (13 points) top
scored for the losers.
The consolation finals will be played today and the finals will be
worked off tomorrow in Colombo. |
