MONTEGO BAY, St James — CORNWALL College has launched an appeal for $150,000 to provide floodlights for their newly completed multi-purpose courts at the school’s campus in Montego Bay.

At Monday’s dedication and handing over ceremony of the new court, Staff Advisor Mrs Lecia Allen announced that after the completion of the courts and the erection of a security fence, the school was seeking assistance to put in floodlights that would facilitate late afternoon games as well as allow the team to train later in the evenings.

“Having seen how much we have helped ourselves so far and the successes we have already reaped (evidenced by our trophies scrapbook and picture display),I am absolutely sure that the representatives of ISSA, JABA, our friends and well-wishers are extremely impressed and will do everything they can to assist us with getting these lights and seats,” she said.

“I already have in my possession an estimate for only $150,000 for the lights, which can easily be covered if you all decide to share the cost and an estimate for seating can be had with a day’s notice!” she added.

The court, which was built by the Parents Teachers Association and the Canadian Chapter of the Cornwall College Old Boys Association will benefit not just Cornwall College but will be available for use by the community as well.

Until the construction of the court, Cornwall was the only western school without a court on their compound and used the facilities at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Keith Wellington, headmaster of St Elizabeth Technical and vice-president of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) urged the school to make use of ‘home court advantage’.

Wellington said ISSA always welcomed the addition of new facilities in schools. “Additional infrastructure always benefit everyone involved,” he said, going on to urge the boys to “return to your school after you have graduated and make your own investments”.

Denham McIntyre, headmaster of the school said the success of the basketball team had “raised the bar for the other teams in the school”.

The Cornwall College Under-19 team is the most successful in the history of the competition and is gunning for their third straight title; they also won the first three Under-14 titles without losing a game and have also won a number of Under-16 titles.