ST Catherine High outplayed Wolmer's Boys in Game Three of the ISSA Southern Conference basketball final to win 64-49 at the National Stadium Courts yesterday.
In the Junior final, Calabar High defeated St George's College, 49-41.

St Catherine's Javon Bailey (front) gets by Wolmer's Boys' Fabian Thompson during Game Three of the ISSA/KFC Southern Conference schools basketball final at the National Stadium Courts yesterday. St Catherine won, 64-49, to take the series 2-1. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Led by a game-high 24 points and 10 assists from point-guard Javon Bailey, the Spanish Town school, which trailed for the entire first half, turned the tables in the second to destroy their opponents.

Noel Wright also had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Errington Robinson 10 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Adrian Blake was Wolmer's' top scorer with 12 points, followed by Christopher Vassell with 11.

Despite trailing for most of the first period, St Catherine's coach Lennox Lindo said he was confident his team would pull through.

"We knew after we burst that first sweat everything would be alright," he said. He had special praise for Bailey. "He is a tremendous talent. The first time I saw him I was just as impressed as a lot of people are today," he added.

Wolmer's started brightly and jumped into a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. But St Catherine stepped up to close the gap to one at the half.

However, Wolmer's went downhill thereafter as the Saints, inspired by Bailey, accelerated in the third quarter to take a 51-39 lead entering the final quarter, in which they outscored their opponents, 13-10.

Albert Corcho (right), chairman of ISSA Basketball, presents the Southern Conference schools' trophy to Noel Wright (left) and Javon Bailey of St Catherine High School, yesterday. St Catherine defeated Wolmer's 64-49 in the deciding third game. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Wolmer's captain Vassell said although he was disappointed, his team is eyeing the bigger picture. "We will bounce back in the all-island," he said.
Meanwhile, Omarie Williams led Calabar with 19 points and 21 rebounds in the Junior against St George's. Romaine McKenzie assisted with nine points as the Red Hills Road school took the series, 2-1.

Dane Griffiths was St George's' top scorer with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cleon Morrison had nine points and Daniel Pitters, eight.

Winning coach Ludlow Barker said, "Congrats to the young men; they have worked hard all season. We're now South Conference champions and I expect us to move on and achieve our other goals."

St George's coach Clifford Brown rued his team's relinquishing a 23-9 half-time lead: "I thought when we took that lead we would go on and take it to the top of the hill," he said.

University Players gear up for Césaire's A Tempest

Anita Baker gives the best she's got at St Lucia Jazz Fest

VP Records scoops up Mighty's Cornerstone