Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:37 AM
Former powerhouse GTI is first NSBF casualty
By Edison Jefford
In what confirmed a definite changing of the guard in schools’ basketball over the last decade or so, Government Technical Institute (GTI) became the first casualty of the eighth annual National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) Tuesday night.
Once one of the best school teams in Georgetown, GTI slumped to a second straight loss in what is now the marquee schools basketball competition. Plaisance beat GTI 42-33, ensuring their slip out of title contention, in a featured Under-20 game.
Plaisance guard and Colts Division I player, Nikkoloi Smith had a
Plaisance guard, Nikkoloi Smith dissects GTI’s defence and goes aerial for a lay-up high off the glass when the NSBF continued Tuesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Kelvin Yorrick supported with 10 points. GTIs forward Dwight Gray had 12 points in the duel at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The game was an evenly contested battle with GTI levelling the scores at 31-31 with 11 minutes to play in the second half. However, a terrible offensive slump from GTI led to them adding just two points in 11 minutes with Plaisance adding 11 points.
Smith took over the last ten minutes of the game, penetrating the weak lane defence from GTI to score easy buckets. Gray, a notable junior ‘big man’, who plays Division III club basketball at an established TGI Pacesetters organisation, was outplayed.
With about five minutes left in the game, Gray seemed to have twisted his ankle, and though he continued the game, his defensive energy was obviously lacking. He struggled to get back up the court, which opened space for Smith’s field day in the paint.
In the other Under-20 games, Marian Academy and Kwakwani Secondary, under the skilful and innovative guidance of one of Guyana’s most successful Coaches, Ann Gordon, both continued to impress with major wins.
Marian Academy defeated the University of Guyana 31-23, continuing a poor offensive trend for some teams in the competition. Dale Beresford scored 10 points while Dominic Vincente had six points and nine rebounds for last year’s runners-up, Marian Academy.
Quincy Easton finished with nine points and eight rebounds with Shawn Codrington also adding eight points and 12 rebounds for the University. Kwakwani, which seem to be the only offensive efficient team in the competition, routed the Guyana School of Agriculture 55-28 in the other Under-20 game of the night.
Shafiek Thomas scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Ron Meredith had 11 points for Kwakwani. Emmanuel Archibald continues to be a one-man army for the Agriculture school, contributing 18 of the team’s 28 points.
In the Under-17 tournament, St. Roses defeated Brickdam Secondary School 47-27 with Nathan Howell and Anfernee Jervis scoring 17 points each for St. Roses. Joshua Lee had nine points for Brickdam Secondary.
In the other Under-17 battle of a night that hosted five games, President’s College (PC) beat New Amsterdam (NA) Multilateral 27-19 with Sherland Gillis scoring eight points and grabbing eight boards for PC as Anton Fileen added five points for NA Multi.
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