St. Joseph’s boys, St. Paul’s girls frolic at basketball

St Joseph’s College and St. Paul’s Girls’ School Milagiriya turned tables and shocked the fancied teams as they became the boys and girls champions at the MyCola Slam under-13 all-island basketball championships last month.

The tournament was worked off at St. Joseph’s College courts at Maradana with Nalanda College and Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya subdued to end as runners-up.

Nalanda reached the final unbeaten in the group A while St Joseph’s entered the final losing only to Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, a powerhouse with stamina and tough defensive playing in Group B. 

At the semifinals St Joseph’s beat the powerful DS Senanayake College while Nalanda defeated Prince of Wales. 

In the final the Joes took control of the game right from the beginning and at halftime they were 15 points against Nalanda’s 10. 

The Joes continued to maintain the lead widening it to an eight shots lead with the final score being 34 to 26 having reserved their best for the last.

At every interval the Nalandians made it a point to fight back against the Joes with young Mihisara Perera in his maroon jersey Number 10 adjudged the Best Offensive Player. 

But giving an equally tough, if not better display, was Joes’ jersey Number 11 Vehan Gunawardhane who won the Best Defensive Player award.

Joes’ player Joel Fernando (jersey Number 67) starred as an impactful contributor who was crowned as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, an indication of what an asset he could be on the court. 

Joel’s star performance with rebounding, assists, passes, steals, blocks and scoring against the Nalandians, who at every given time barricaded him with a defensive attack, was a revelation. 

The championship was declared as a major success contested by teams from all over the island including schools from Galle, Gampaha, Kandy and Colombo from where hail some of the best basketball talent.

Some of the boys’ teams that showed plenty of basketball talents were Prince of Wales, D.S Senanayake, Lyceum International School Nugegoda and Dharmashoka College Ambalangoda. 

The girls’ championship was not short of drama. It marked a dramatic turn of events as St Paul’s Girls School Milagiriya grabbed victory from the jaws of the stronger and fancied girls of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya. 

At the outset the Familians were leading the game with the scoreboard reading 6-3 at half time. However the energetic Paulians who did not give up at any stage took control with continuous baskets as Cheneli Ranasinghe was adjudged the Most Valuable Player. 

As soon as the third quarter of the game started, St. Paul’s were shielded by a tough defense led by Ehansa Danandee (jersey Number 3) who was adjudged the Best Defensive Player.

The Familians counter attack was led by Ivana Morris (jersey Number 30) who was adjudged the Best Offensive Player. But she could not prevent St Paul’s from winning the final 20-14 as worthy champions.

Caption- The champion St. Paul’s Girls School team comprising Januli Sahansa Dasanayaka, Chahana Avishi Ariyarathna, Sineli Duhansa, Anuki Hansadi Silva, Tenuthi Guwanya, Cheneli Rushenka Ranasinghe, Chenaya Nethumli Ranasinghe, Ehansa Danandee, Sethuni Dihansa, Dewara Gayindee Piyadasa, Methma Basnayake and Minuki Ratnayake

Source - Daily Mirror