By Kiev Chesney
It was evident that fans got their money’s worth on the opening day in the third annual Pepsi National Schools’ Basketball Festival as fans left the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall talking about the dramatic 31-30 Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) victory against Linden Technical Institute in the feature game of the day.
Three exciting games preceded the clash of the institutes but that clash was by far the most thrilling one on the day as the result could have gone either way during the final minute.
After their star-studded starting five of Keith Tute, Kevin Jordan, Keon Hayles, Keno George and Courtney Hinds took to the hardwood all in the same uniform, GTI instantly became the favourite team.
This was because Tute, George, Hayles and Jordan all are currently on the country’s junior elite squad while the fifth, Hinds is an experienced campaigner who played on both the Pepsi Sonics third and second-division teams.
So it was no shocker when GTI raced out to an early 8-0 lead and maintained command in the first half which ended 19-12.
What was surprising was when a revitalized and more tenacious LTI team emerged in the second half to take control of the ball game.
LTI managed to tie the game 23-23 with under four minutes remaining but then Tute, who emerged as leader of the team, scored a tough lay-up to put his team up again.
After a Hayles free throw GTI thought the game was all about wrapped up with 1:46s on the game clock but LTI shot their dream down and they drew within one before Devon Wills smoothly stroked the three-ball to put LTI up two points with 43.5s remaining in the game.
GTI called a much-needed time-out but could not convert on the play and LTI got out in the open court in an attempt to put the icing on the cake, but failed.
GTI got the second opportunity that they had been praying for and made the most of it as Hinds managed a tough put back in the low post and drew the foul for the three-point play with under 10 seconds remaining.
Hinds broke the tie with a clutch free throw and then led an all-out defensive effort to ensure that LTI did not get a proper last shot.
Tute led the scoring with nine points in a balanced team performance from GTI while Travis Leitch and Donnel Benajmin led the way for LTI with eight points apiece.
In the earlier match defending champions Kwakwani destroyed a weakened Central High School squad 43-8.
The Central High players were very much on their own without ex-student Travis Burnette who carried the side on his back during his brilliant run in school basketball.
Rising star at the point guard position Shelroy Thomas made his way onto the score sheet with 17 points which was the highest individual total of the day.
Another skilled ball-handler from Region 10, Akeem Kanhai, led Mackenzie High School past St. Rose’s High 50-24. Omar Sam gave support with 12 points while Rudolph Daly put up a futile 12 points for St. Rose’s.
Despite a good showing in their first game back (after being absent from schools basketball for quite some time) President’s College was defeated by Plaisance Academy 34-37.
Plaisance Academy’s perennial scoring threat, Shagola Benctick, led all scorers with 16 points while Leon Daniels added seven points.
Action continues today beginning at 1pm at the same venue.
