KINGSTON College and Ardenne High scored double victories as the 2012-2013 KFC/ISSA Under-19 and Under-16 National Schoolboys Basketball Championships got underway at the National Stadium Basketball Courts on Monday.

The All-Island Championship is played between the winners and runners-up from the Southern, Central and Western Conference schools competitions — both in the Under-16 and Under-19.

On Monday, it was easy going for Kingston College who are the reigning All-Island Under-19 champions as they whipped Edwin Allen High 85-50. The “purple-and-whites” gained a commanding 45-11 points lead at half time.

Jean Clifton paved the way for an easy win for the defending champions with a game-high 39 points, including nine steals, four assists and four rebounds, while Michael Zachary got 10 points, along with11 rebounds. Sammar Reid scored 27 points for the losers.

In another Under-19 game, Ardenne High defeated Munro College 66-54 points after securing a 37-17 lead at the interval. For Ardenne, Martin Gentles had a game-high 33 points and was supported by Javaughn Davis with 19 points.

Jawayne Jarrett with 20 points, Javier Charlton 14 points and Andrew James 13 points were the principal scorers for Munro College.

Meanwhile, in the Under-16 All-Island Championship play-off, Urban champions Ardenne High defeated Munro College 60-34 with the winners taking a 24-17 points at half time.

The principal scorers for Ardenne were Maliek McCarthy with 13 points and 16 rebounds and Matthew Lee with 10 points, while Delroy Farquharson scored 10 points for Munro College.

Kingston College, who lost to Ardenne in the Under-16 final, demolished St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) 120-26, with KC starting the assault with a commanding 53-10 lead at half time.

For KC, Jermaine Bennett scored 25 points and 21 rebounds, Jamie Hugh-Brown 21 points, Malik Pusey 21 points with eight rebounds and 15 assists, Dimtri Clarke 15 points and nine rebounds and Jeheim Robinson with 12 points.

The All-Island Championships is being played in four groups of three schools each in both the Under-16 and Under-19. The winners of each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Urban Under-19 champions Hydel High were down to play Manchester High on Monday at Manchester High School, but it is learnt Hydel are deemed to have forfeited the match as a result of not having their identification cards (IDs) for game time and the game was subsequently awarded to Manchester High School.

The National Pay0off Basketball Championships continues this afternoon with Glenmuir High meeting St Jago High in the Under-16 at 1:30 and Belair High vs St Catherine High in the Under-19 at 3:00 at Manchester High School.

In other contests, Dinthill Technical High tackle Munro College in the Under-16 at 1:30 pm, while Old Harbour High face Munro College High at 3:00 in the Under-19 at GC Foster College.

Muschett High are down to play STETHS at 1:30 pm in the Under-16, while Muschett High take on Edwin Allen High at 3:00 in the Under-19.

Ardenne High’s Martin Gentles (left) tries to dribble away from Munro College’s Javier Charlton during their KFC/ISSA Under-19 National Schoolboys Basketball Championships match at the National Stadium Basketball Courts on Monday. Ardenne won 66-54. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)