Azar Central College basketball champions

Azar Central College, Akurana defied all odds to score an exciting 85 to 81 win over the more fancied Colombo International School, Kandy Branch to emerge champions at the finals of the Central Province boys Under 19 Schools Basketball Championship organized by the Department of Education of the Central Province and the finals worked off at St Anthony's Girls College Courts at Katugastota. At the breather Azar Central College led 35-32.

The Champion Azar Central team: Standing (from left) Mohammed Shiffan (Assistant Coach), Anuradha Wijesinghe (Coach), Saheed Shah, Mohammed Rimshad, Mohammed Azir, Mohammed Askar, Mohammed Basith, Mohammed Ikram (Master-in-Charge). On ground; (from left) Mohammed Shakeer, Mohammed Yaseer, Mohammed Azeer and Mohammed Shilhan.

The runners up Colombo International School Kandy. On ground (from left): Dasun Karunaratne, Aszel Irshard, Umair Naleen. Standing: (from left): D S Pingamage (Coach), Azan Manzil, Mark George, Shalih Amjad, Salim Khan, Lahiru Karaliyadde, Nishan Maheswaran, Ahamed Muzny (Master-in-Charge).

It was very closely contested finals with both teams displaying excellent speed and skills to thrill the large crowd present.

For a school from the village of Akurana - Azar Central College Cagers put up a delightful performance and was their fall handling and shooting skills and above all maintained their cool to snatch victory in the after the game went into extra time.

Their coach Anuradha Wijesinghe was a fine example as he allowed the players to take the decision and took the time outs at the correct time which helped to get over exhaustion and go for the kill.

The game started off well with the winners in the lead but the CIS team caught up to equalize and even overtake the opponents score to lead 16-14.

The ding dong battle continued and the Azarians were slightly ahead by the breather.

The battle continued into the second half and both teams unleashed sustained attacks making it an anybody's game.

When the umpires were about to blow "No side" the Azarians had a two point lead but the CIS team wiped out this two point lead with a basket to draw level at 68 all.

The game went into extra time to break this dead lock. The raging battle was and at one stage the Azar Central team was seen struggling for baskets but they took central in the dying stages through its clean basketing. Aazir Rameez and Anzar Aslan eased pressure with their lovely sit and jump shots.

For Azar Central College it was Umair Naleem (25) and Saleem Khan (32) who made the main contribution. The CIS team scored most of the points through Lahiru Karaliyadde 35 and Mark George (17).

Bolton Fernando and Asanka Swaris umpired. Kingswood College won the consolation finals by defeating St Anthony's College 42-21.

In the semi finals Colombo International School beat St Anthony's College 61-40 and Azar Central College beat Kingswood College 65-41.

The results of some of the matches played during the day were Azar Central College beat Gateway College 83-50, Colombo International School beat Wesswood International School 48-24, Kingswood College beat Trinity College 31-22.

St. Anthony's College and Trinity College teams could not find a berth in the semi finals. Newcomers to scene Wesswood College fielding a virtually under 15 team did well in their maiden appearance.