The prestigious National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) was officially launched yesterday amid much pageantry at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, with Aoirima, Kwakwani, Bartica, and the Bishops’ High advancing to the next round.
Following an opening ceremony which featured remarks from the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr., Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and sponsors inclusive of major contributor ExxonMobil, the quartet of Aoirima, Kwakwani, Bartica, and the Bishops’ High, secured contrasting wins.
Aoirima mauled Mackenzie High of Linden 48-12. Kelon Phillips led the rout with an impressive 27 points. For the losers, Josiah Lucas netted eight points and 12 rebounds.
Similarly, Kwakwani Secondary dismantled Mahaicony 32-10. Travis Lewis top scored with 16 points in the win while Cordel Hoyte supported with 10 points and seven rebounds. Shannon Wilson led the way for losers with 10 points and five rebounds.
Bartica then crushed Queen’s College 39-24. Joshua Garraway recorded a double-double of 18 points, and 15 rebounds in the lopsided encounter. For the losers, Xavier Collier netted 12 points.
In a close encounter, Bishops’ High edged Christ Church 28-26. Mattias Arrindell was the primary threat for the victor with 17 points. For Christ Church, Demetri Rankin amassed 13 points, and seven rebounds.
On Friday in the same division, Government Technical Institute (GTI) defeated Lower Corentyne 27-25. Kofi Hassanah tallied a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds while Resean Barnwell supported with eight points and six rebounds. For the losers, Tyrese Gibbons recorded 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Meanwhile, St. Rose’s High downed New Amsterdam Multilateral School 49-40. Carmelo Man-Son-Hing led the way with 30 points whilst Wayne Williams added nine points. For the East Berbicians, Raekwon Williams and Xavier Ferresco scored 14 and 13 points each.
Likewise, Linden Technical Institute (LTI) dismissed Tutorial High 43-33. Ninian Vincente led the Lindeners with 12 points, while Damain Allen registered 10 points and five rebounds. For the loser, Joel Lathan scored 7 points and 10 rebounds, with Zelciro Haynes adding five points and 11 rebounds.
The other sponsors of the tournament, which is coordinated by the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) group, are the National Sports Commission, G-Boat Guyana, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, and Banks DIH Ltd.
