Joes take on Bens in under-19 cager final today
Anuradha Abeysekera
St. Joseph's College, Maradana will meet St. Benedict's College,
Kotahena in the 2011 under-19 All Island 'A' division Basketball
Championship final at the Royal College basketball court, Reid Avenue
today evening. The organizers, Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association
wasnot able to conclude the tournament last year due to some protests
and completed the semi finals yesterday at the Royal courts.
Benedictines tamed Royalists (61-58) in their own den in the first
semi final while Josephians found no trouble in beating St. Anthony's
College, Wattala (75-45) in the other semi final.
Bens took the early lead by scoring 13 points against eight from the
Royalists in the fist quarter were six points ahead at half time
(32-26). Home team tried to make inroads in the third quarter scoring 18
points while restricting visitors to 16 points.
Benedictines steadied their defense in the final quarter and won the
match with a three point lead.
Clinton Stallon and captain Sanjaya Ganlath top scored for the
winners 36 and nine points respectively while Royal captain Kasun
Uyangoda (19 points) and Ashen Menuka (13 points) were the best
contributors for the losers.
In the second semi final Josephians dominated the match from the
beginning posted a seven-point lead in the fist quarter (17-10).
Anthonians fought hard in the second quarter and reduced the gap by
scoring 19 points against 14 from the winners. Josephians were just two
points ahead midway (31-29). Josephians payed aggressively in the third
quarter and grabbed 32 points against seven from the opponents.
Anthonians were tired and did not able to put up any resistance.
Josephians comfortably won the match with a 30-point margin.
Josephian captain Praneeth Udumalagala scored 24 points and Yohan
Keyser added 10 points for the winning team. Milan Chathuranga (19
points) and Akila Sulochana (15 points) were the best scorers fr the
losers. |