MONTEGO BAY, St James — Defending champions

St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) and Grange Hill High scored contrasting victories yesterday to advance to the semi-finals of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis Knock-Out on Wednesday.

STETHS beat first-timers Kemps Hill, 3-0, in Santa Cruz as they seek a third straight hold on the trophy, while Grange Hill edged William Knibb Memorial, 1-0, at Jarrett Park to secure a return trip to the semi-fials.

In Wednesday games, STETHS will take on Paul Bogle, who were come from behind 3-1 winners over St Mary Technical, while Grange Hill will face Manchester High at Jarrett Park.

Manchester High beat Clarendon College, 5-4, on penalty kicks after playing out a 1-1 draw at Kirkvine.

In Santa Cruz, Kehsanio Hall scored twice and Jamel Sinclair got the other for STETHS to end Kemps Hill’s dreams of making it to the top four in only their first year in the competition.

Kemps Hill went into the game on the back of an upset win over Garvey Maceo in the previous round and were hoping for back-to-back surprise wins.

At Jarrett Park, Paul Warren’s seventh-minute goal was enough in a slugfest between Grange Hill and William Knibb. The goal was the first for either team, in regulation play in two games in the Knock-Out after penalty-kick win in the previous round.

Grange Hill had beaten Frome Technical in sudden-death penalties after the teams had played out a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of extra time.

A second-half own-goal scored by Cornwall College had given William Knibb an equaliser that they held on for a 1-1 draw before winning on penalty kicks.

Warren’s goal appeared to catch William Knibb goalkeeper Bentley James by surprise as the ball came off his hands from a header at his near left post and flew behind him into the goal.

Grange Hill dominated the first half and had several scoring chances, but failed to make the best of any of them.

William Knibb was struck a blow in the 30th minute when their most experienced striker, Hugh-George Watson, had to be taken out due to injury and replaced by Jason Barrett.

Despite this, the Trelawny school looked the better team in the second half, but their best chance at goal was a ferocious shot from Shan-Wayne Williams that was headed off the line by a defender in the 63rd.