Old Harbour trounce Ardenne in U19 basketball opener

However, the Old Harbour’s under-16s – beaten national finalist last season, narrowly lost 29-33 to the visitors in the curtain-raiser at the Old Harbour Church of Christ court.

With several players from lasts season promoted to the under-19 set-up this season, the seniors took charge from the outset to devastating effect.

Marcus Higgs, playing with the flu, showed no ill-effects of his afflictions, as he registered a game high 20 points. Higgs was very dominant in an all-round display which included nine rebounds, four steals and two assists, while teammate Domonic Menzie was also in inspired form, scoring 15 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Ardenne’s Jevon Malcolm and Johnathan Robinson had a joint team high of eight points each.

Old Harbour are expected to dominate Zone A in the conference but will face stern opposition from St Catherine High, Calabar High and Camperdown High. Camperdown and St Catherine finished the season third and fourth overall respectively in the national under-19 category. 

In under-16 action at St Catherine High, the hosts defeated Wolmer’s Boys 52-36.  The visitors were very much in the game with the scores tied 19-19 at the end of the first quarter, but were unable to find a way back into the contest after being outscored 21-5 in the second quarter as the half ended 40-24.

The intensity of the game dropped during the second half, but the damage have been done already by St Catherine, led by Jordan James’ 10 points 22 rebounds and four blocked shots and Lennox Brown’s 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Wolmer’s Boys’ woes were compounded by their 10 turnovers, which overshadowed Joel Ricketts’ game high score of 15 points.

St Catherine’s senior boys then completed the double over their Heroes Circle opponents, romping to a comfortable 53-32 victory.

Similarly like their junior teammates, St Catherine took a firm grip of the battle with a dominant second half performance after the scores were even 18 apiece end of first quarter.

Nicholas Kelly was the game’s MVP adding 24 points and five rebounds for St Catherine along with teammate Raddai Bromfield, who recorded 10 points, eight steals and five assists.

Wolmer’s fight was led by Nicholas Flakes, who had nine points and 13 rebounds.

Rain interrupted the Calabar versus Meadowbrook fixture in the zone at Red Hills Road. The hosts were leading when the rains came during under-16 action to such an extent no further play was possible at the venue.

The teams return to action on November 1 with Camperdown hosting Wolmer’s Boys, Ardenne travelling to Red Hills Road to play Calabar and Old Harbour at home to St Catherine High.

Match time is 2:00 pm for under-16s and 3:30 pm for under-19s.