Individual brilliance highlights Day 4 as KFC NSBF contenders race intensifies

Jul 03, 2026 Sports

…Beckles, Bernard, Hopkinson, Heyliger among the points

Kaieteur Sports – The race for championship glory intensified on Wednesday as the 19th Annual KFC National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) reached its decisive stages, with 32 schools battling for coveted quarterfinal places in the Boys’ Under-14 and Under-18 divisions at the National Gymnasium.

When the final buzzer sounded on an action-packed Day Four, the knockout brackets were completed.

Individual brilliance highlights Day 4 as KFC NSBF contenders race intensifies

The story of the day! St Ignatius Secondary making its historic debut at the 19th Annual KFC NSBF.

Advancing to the Under-14 quarterfinals were St Rose’s High, The Bishops’ High, St Stanislaus College, Good Hope Secondary, Queen’s College, Hururu Secondary, Kwakwani Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary.

Joining the Under-18 quarterfinal field are President’s College, Kwakwani Secondary, The Bishops’ High, St Rose’s High, St Stanislaus College, Queen’s College, New Amsterdam Multilateral and tournament debutants St Ignatius Secondary.

With four championship trophies still up for grabs, action intensified in the Girls’ Under-16 and Boys’ Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 divisions, as the country’s top young basketball talent continues to showcase its depth, while established powerhouses and emerging schools extend their campaign to this year’s titles.

Wednesday belonged to several standout performers.

Part of Day 4 action between Queen’s College and West Demerara in the NSBF Boy’s U18 championship.

Skeldon Line Path’s Kellon Lyte poured in 16 points to spearhead a dominant victory, while Kwakwani Secondary’s Trayon Hopkinson exploded for a tournament-high 22 points in another one-sided triumph. Hururu Secondary’s Crandon Beckles produced a commanding all-round display to power his team into the last eight.

In the Under-18 division, Kwakwani once again flexed its basketball pedigree as Simeon Sinclair and Marlon Mendonca combined to lead their side into the quarterfinals, while Chazaiah Bernard delivered an impressive two-way performance to guide St Rose’s High through.

In the U14 segment, Skeldon Line Path opened the evening with a defensive masterclass, overwhelming School of the Nations 45-4. Lyte finished with 16 points and five rebounds, while Eshmeal Goodluck added 12 points and controlled the glass with six rebounds as Line Path dominated from the opening tip.

Kwakwani Secondary then stormed past YBG Academy 47-8, with Hopkinson exploding for a game-high 22 points. Kwayson Bethune provided the perfect supporting cast, adding 16 points as Kwakwani advanced comfortably.

Hururu Secondary completed the Under-14 quarterfinal lineup after edging JC Chandisingh Secondary 32-25. Beckles led from the front with 17 points and eight rebounds, controlling both ends of the floor in a crucial victory.

In a recap, Boys U18 Division:

The atmosphere intensified once the Under-18 competition tipped off, with semi-packed stands, roaring supporters and schools rallying behind their favourite colours as quarterfinal places hung open.

Kwakwani Secondary produced arguably the most emphatic performance of the night, dismantling YBG Academy 68-10. Sinclair and Mendonca were unstoppable, each recording identical stat lines of 26 points and five rebounds as Kwakwani dominated in transition and inside the paint.

St Rose’s High also punched its ticket to the knockout stage after defeating Covent Garden Secondary 31-23. Bernard led the charge with 19 points and nine rebounds, controlling the tempo with an outstanding two-way effort.

Queen’s College seized control early against West Demerara Secondary and never looked back, cruising to a convincing 41-11 victory. Nathan Morris paced the offence with 10 points as QC comfortably secured its place in the final eight.

Tournament newcomers St Ignatius Secondary continued their dream run, defeating Region Two (Combined) Secondary 25-11. Anson Heyliger anchored the victory with a composed double-double, dominating the boards while finishing efficiently around the basket.

Action resumes today and continues through Sunday, July 5, as the race for national school basketball supremacy moves closer to crowning its champions.

The tournament is sponsored by KFC Guyana with support from Edward B. Beharry Ltd., G-Boats Inc., the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Education.

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