Linden Technical Institute (LTI) and Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) will battle for top honours this evening when they collide in the final of the Digicel powered National Schools Basketball Festival at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
LTI and GTI trounced their opponents Mackenzie High School (MHS) and President’s College (PC) in the semi-final round of the tourney 49 – 45 and 70 – 44 respectively.
GTI was the first to secure their spot in the final after they dominated PC.
Shelroy Thomas led the way with a sterling 26.
GTI comfortably controlled the first half which ended 36 – 14 in their favour.
However, PC was able to get the score board ticking in the second and final half but they came up short against the powerful GTI team who won by a massive 26 points in the end.
In the mining town battle, the older much stronger LTI team was able to get past the MHS team with better rotation of the ball and communication in plays.
The first half concluded 22 – 19 in MHS’s favour with the well composed Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai leading the way as he opened the encounter by the scoring his team’s first eight points with two three pointers and a one-handed dunk which were the first points of the match up.
When the second half resumed the MHS boys seemed to tire and began taking a few ambitious three-point attempts that failed to score.
With 1:59s to go in the game LTI led by four (38-42) before the opposition went on a 7-3 run tie the 45-45 with 50 seconds left on the clock.
However LTI scored their final four points from the free throw line as the match ended 4945 in their favour.
The Under-17 category saw the School of the Nations going down to Marian Academy by 21 points in the encounter which ended 18 – 39 while Kwakwani Secondary registered a blow out against St. John’s College winning 58 – 19.
In the Under-15 category Marian Academy crushed Plaisance Community High School 33 – 21 after leading 19 – 5 at half time while Cummings Lodge whipped West Demerara Secondary School 37 – 21 to advance to the final round.
The final showdowns in all categories will be contested today prior the Under-19 final between LTI and GTI.