Sunburst Linden Sec. Sch. U-17 B’ball Final...Mackenzie High pip Christianburg Wismar to win title; Daniel Anthony is MVP

Sunburst Linden Sec. Sch. U-17 B’ball Final…Mackenzie High pip Christianburg Wismar to win title; Daniel Anthony is MVP

Jan 30, 2014 Sports

In what was a thrilling finish to the inaugural Sunburst Orange Juice sponsored Linden Secondary School Under-17 Basketball championship, Mackenzie High School led by Most Valuable Player of the final, Daniel Anthony, won by the slimmest of margins {37-36} over Christianburg Wismar Secondary at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hardcourt.

Continental Group of Companies Marketing Assistants Mr. Jaigobin (2nd right) and Roy Persaud (right) along with District Education Officer (Primary) Mrs. Lashanna Anderson (left) pose with the champion team Mackenzie High.

The third place was won by Linden Foundation Secondary which got the better of New Silvercity Secondary.
Going into the final game of the tournament which started last year, Mackenzie High was the team to beat as they were unbeaten and had also defeated Christianburg Wismar when the two sides earlier in the competition.
Mackenzie High led by a single point 7-6 by the end of the first quarter, but eased to an 18-12 half time advantage. By this time the excellent team play shown by Mackenzie High during the championship was beginning to have an effect on their opponents who failed to match their momentum.
By the end of the third quarter, Mackenzie High were coasting 29-21, or so it seemed, before the ‘Multi’ boys made a run for the title late in this deciding game.
Daniel Anthony who finished with 16 points and a similar amount of rebounds to go with five assists and six steals and point guard Yannick Tappin played excellent basketball to steer their side home to the title in a thrilling climax.
Tappin touched in seven points, a similar amount of assists and four rebounds, while teammate Tyrese Mitchell added six points, four rebounds and three steals to lead the new champions.
Christianburg Wismar crept back into the game in the final minute but were unable to deliver the basket to tie the game, losing two possessions in a row which delivered the game to Mackenzie High.
Gregory Europe played well for the losers, pouring in 16 points and seven rebounds with back up from Dellon Patterson and Akini Wilson with five points each.
On hand to witness the final were officials from the Continental Group of Companies, Mr. Jaigobin and Roy Persaud, while District Education Officer (Primary) Mrs. Lashanna Anderson represented the Department of Education in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).
Jaigobin handed over the winners’ trophy and the MVP award to Daniel Anthony of Mackenzie High, while Persaud presented the second place trophy to Christianburg Wismar as well as the replicas to Mackenzie High. Mrs. Anderson distributed the third place trophy and medals.

Continental Group of Companies, Marketing Assistant Mr. Jaigobin (3rd right) hands over the winning trophy to Mackenzie High Captain and MVP Daniel Anthony.

In remarks, Jaigobin said his company was pleased to have given back to Linden through this medium as they have always been supported by the community over the years.
Ms. Anderson was pleased with the tournament being run through the Education Department which gave permission for the championship to be held. Secretary of the organisers, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), Joseph Chapman apologized for the tournament overlapping into 2014 as this was due to the inclement weather among other things but was grateful for its conclusion.
In the third place playoff game, the Linden Foundation Secondary proved superior to their rivals New Silvercity Secondary and came away with a 63-30 win.