ST Andrew Technical (STATHS) defeated Hydel High, 57-49, in Game Three of the KFC/ISSA Southern Conference Schools Basketball Final at the National Stadium Courts yesterday to win the series 2-1.

Led by Lamount Lindsay with 19 points, 12 steals and six rebounds, the Spanish Town Road-based boys clawed their way up from an 11-point first-quarter deficit to win the next three quarters and claim the championship.

Kino Elliot gave good support with 13 points and six rebounds, as did Joel Smith with 10 points and eight rebounds.

After Hydel had taken Game One by three points and STATHS levelled the series with a two-point victory, a close match was always on the cards yesterday.

Hydel got down to business from the start as they raced into a 21-10 lead at the end of the first period.

However, in a keenly contested second quarter, STATHS carved out a 14-9 score for the period to go in trailing 24-30 at half-time.

The winners continued where they left off in the third quarter, eating into their opponents' advantage, and they eventually levelled the scores midway the period before going on to take a three-point lead, 41-38, entering the final stanza.

Former Herbert Morrison and Western Conference MVP, Jervis Hamilton was key to Hydel's victory in the first game, and when he fouled out during the latter stages of the fourth quarter, it was obvious the St Catherine boys were severely affected.

When Hamilton fouled out again with five minutes remaining yesterday, Hydel's hopes were basically dashed as they could barely score a basket after his departure.

STATHS went on to take the period 16-11 for a six-point victory at the end. An emotional coach Venreece Watson said they just had to do it.

Southern Conference MVP Paul Richards led the scoring for Hydel with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Hamilton followed with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Aniffe Foster had 10 points.

"My boys gave me the 110 per cent. I'm always asking for and when they almost lost it we asked them to give 110 per cent and they went out in the third quarter and did it," he said.

Hydel's coach Kurt Stewart said losing Hamilton showed up his young players' inexperience.

"We got to the finals and we did well; we lost the game at the end to a more experienced team," he conceded.

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