MONTEGO BAY, St James — Belair High School got off to a winning start in the KFC/ISSA National Basketball play-offs on Friday beating Western Conference champions Cornwall College, 53-37, in an Under-19 game at Montego Bay Cricket Club.

A 21-0 run by Belair between the third and fourth periods made the difference in what was up to then a closely-contested game.

The teams were tied at 24-24 midway the third quarter when the Mandeville-based school scored the final 13 points of the period and the first eight in the fourth to put Cornwall out of contention.

Belair led, 8-6, after the first quarter and were still up by two, 17-15, in a low-scoring half before exploding for 20 points in the third quarter as Cornwall played sloppy basketball, creating numerous unforced errors and turnovers.

Belair led by 13 points, 37-24, at the end of the third quarter and while Cornwall rallied in the fourth, the game was already out of their reach as they lost for the first time this season.

Shelmar Bromfield led Belair with 19 points, Micah Russell scored 11 points and had eight steals, while Roger Richards scored 10 points and had 16 rebounds.

Josimar Stephenson scored 11 points and pulled seven rebounds for Cornwall, while Christopher Ray Smith scored seven points, had eighth rebounds and nine blocked shots. Simmoy Noble got seven points.

Western Under-16 champions Herbert Morrison's game against Knox College was postponed.

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