Mackenzie High, Marian Academy, Plaisance and St. Rose’s sealed contrasting quarterfinal victories in the U16 section when the National School Basketball Festival continued on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Mackenzie High blew out St. Joseph’s High 78-17 to earn their semi-final berth with Yonnick Tappin recording a double-double of 16 points and 11 steals. He also had five rebounds while Odime Reece contributed eight points.
For St. Joseph’s, Tahir Meusa scored six points.
Unlike Mackenzie High the Marian Academy versus North Georgetown encounter was a low scoring one with Marian Academy edging home 15-10. They were led by a 10 point effort from Jahleel Young.
Plaisance became the next team to reach the last four at getting there at the expense of Kwakwani Secondary who they defeated 47-30. Andrew Johnson shot his way to 20 points and threw in five steals while Shamar Payne assisted with 11 points. For Kwakwani, Isaiah David scored six points.
Unlike the other three teams St Rose’s reached the last four via a walkover from Bladen Hall Secondary.
In the U19 section, Mackenzie High downed Berbice High 43-26. Yonnick Tappin and Leon Benjamin led the way with 12 and 11 points respectively while Shamar France scored 13 points for the losing team.
However, New Amsterdam Multilateral made sure a Berbice team remained in the hunt for top honours by whipping St. Stanislaus College 48-26. Neil Wills recorded figures of 13 points and five rebounds while Kelmar Carmichael chipped in with nine points and as many rebounds.
Travis Belgrave led the way with 13 points and four rebounds for the losers.
Favourite St. Roses High crushed Queen’s College 39-16 with Loncel Martin and Patrice Agrippa scored 11 and nine points each for the winners.
For Queen’s College, Damani Thomas scored eight points, eight rebounds and five steals. Continuing in the same section, Government Technical Institute (GTI) edged Plaisance Secondary 53-41.
Nathan Saul shot his way to 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win while Malcolm Powdar assisted with nine points, five steals and four rebounds.
Terrence Daniels battled to 15 points and nine rebounds in the loss. The final result of the section witnessed Linden Technical Institute (LTI) mauling JC Chandisingh Secondary 51-26.
Tahquille Johnson top scored for the Lindeners with 13 points and five rebounds while Akini Wilson supported with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Berbicians, Asafo Profitt battled to figures of 12 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. In the earlier U16 fixtures, Marian Academy thrashed St. Stanislaus College 38-12. Jether Harris and Young top scored with nine points while Nicholas Neias scored four points in the defeat.
Similarly, Kwakwani Secondary brushed aside Tutorial High 53-13. David Lonway top scored in the rout with 13 points while Isaiah David and Jahleel Young scored nine points apiece.
For the losing team, Zion Gray scored four points. The event will resume on Friday with the U19 quarterfinals at the same venue and will continue Saturday with the semi-final round in each division before ending the following day with the four respective division finals. The start time for each match day will be 16:00hrs.
The tournament is sponsored by Digicel Guyana, Edward B. Beharry (Champion) and Company Ltd and Banks DIH LTD (Powerade).
