JC pip Calabar in U-19 basketball thriller
JAMAICA College (JC) scored a nailbiting 55-52 win over Calabar in their ISSA/KFC South Conference Zone One Under-19 schools basketball top-of-the-table clash at Calabar yesterday.
James McDonald led the way for the Old Hope Road boys with 12 points and 13 rebounds, with support coming from Alex Parkinson with 12 points and Chad Wilson with 10.
David Shaw was Calabar’s topscorer with a game-high 17 points. His best support came from Dwayne Pottinger with 15 points and nine blocks, and Leon Abrahams with 20 rebounds and eight points.
Calabar (15 points) still lead their rivals by a point, although they have played a game more. However, both teams have already secured their berths in the second round.
Kingston College (KC) with 12 points, Campion College with 11 and St Catherine and Ardenne with 10 apiece are all in with a chance of taking the last remaining quarter-final spots from the group.
KC kept themselves in the race after defeating Charlie Smith, 49-11. Damion Johnson with 13 points and Akeel Hylton and Kemoy Wright with 12 each led the way for KC.
In Zone Two, St Jago managed their second win of the campaign after a 43-35 win over Excelsior.
Meanwhile, in the Under-16 competition, Calabar recorded their seventh consecutive win from nine matches by beating JC, 57-14, to book their quarter-final berth from Zone One.
Shakeil Grant led the way for the Red Hills Road-based school with a game-high 22 points, plus an impressive 26 rebounds, six blocks and five steals.
Calabar completed their fixture and sit atop the group on 16 points, ahead of KC with 14. However, only Ardenne, with 12 points and two games remaining, look set to join Calabar in the second round.
As Campion, St Catherine and Vauxhall, who are both on 13 points with KC, have a chance of taking the last two quarter-finals spots.
In other Under-16 matches, Mona forfeited their game against KC, while Camperdown defeated Clan Carthy, 54-16.
In the lone Zone Two match, St Jago registered their eighth win from as many matches, beating Excelsior, 47-17, to qualify from the group with maximum 16 points.
