PC reigns supreme at 19th KFC NSBF; St. Rose’s, Hururu Secondary also crowned

Jul 07, 2026 Sports

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Kaieteur Sports – After eight days of non-stop youth basketball action, Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) has brought the curtain down on the 19th KFC National School Basketball Festival on Sunday at the National Gymnasium, capping off another memorable edition with four deserving champions crowned.

President’s College etched its name into the history books by capturing its maiden Girls’ Under-16 title before completing a championship double as its Under-18 boys overwhelmed Queen’s College in the feature finale. St. Rose’s High School battled to the Boys’ Under-16 crown, while Hururu Secondary completed a remarkable campaign by cutting down Skeldon Line Path Secondary to claim the Boys’ Under-14 championship.

The tournament also marked a historic shift in the local schools’ basketball landscape, as Kwakwani Secondary, a perennial powerhouse, failed to reach a championship game for the first time in the festival’s history, highlighting the growing depth and competitiveness across the country.

Region Six continued to make its presence felt throughout the tournament, placing two schools in championship finals as Skeldon Line Path Secondary and Berbice High School both finished runners-up in their respective divisions.

The region also swept several of the major individual honours. JC Chandisingh Secondary was named Best Emerging School, Berbice High School’s Jason Gladstone collected the Coach of the Year award, while Region Six Conference Coordinator Stefan Peters was recognised with an Outstanding Leadership Award.

According to YBG, the participation of schools from Regions Two and Nine reinforced the organisers’ belief that “young people across Guyana simply need opportunities to develop and showcase their talents.” Their involvement reflected the organisation’s commitment to widening basketball’s footprint and creating more avenues for youth development nationwide.

President’s College was one of the tournament’s biggest success stories. After six previous attempts, the Georgetown school finally broke through, driving the lane to secure its first Girls’ championship. The triumph comes amid a resurgence in girls’ basketball, with several emerging programmes showing they can now compete possession for possession with the country’s traditional contenders.

YBG Co-Director Chris Bowman believes the future is bright.

“The future of the girls’ game looks bright, and there is much anticipation for their continued growth and development over the coming year,” Bowman remarked.

Championship Sunday certainly delivered.

The Boys’ Under-14 final tipped off with two of the tournament’s hottest teams, Hururu Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary, trading baskets in an entertaining contest that showcased the country’s next generation of talent. Hururu eventually found another gear in the second half, pulling away for a convincing 45-31 victory to secure its first championship.

Crandon Beckles dominated both ends of the floor with an outstanding double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the paint throughout the contest. Roy Corbis provided excellent support with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Hururu won the rebounding battle and closed out a memorable title run.

The Girls’ final had fans on the edge of their seats as tournament debutants Hururu Secondary pushed the experienced President’s College lineup right down to the final possession. With the pressure mounting, President’s College kept its composure down the stretch to escape with a nail-biting 18-17 victory and finally lift the Girl’s U16 championship trophy.

Sarah Williams paced the winners with five points and four rebounds, while Christy Sears and Pauline Flatts chipped in with timely contributions to help PC survive Hururu’s spirited challenge.

The Boys’ Under-16 championship was equally dramatic as Berbice High School and St. Rose’s High School exchanged momentum throughout a high-tempo encounter. The lead changed hands several times before St. Rose’s dug deep in overtime to edge tournament favourites Berbice High 50-46.

Nathan Williams delivered an MVP-worthy performance, filling the stat sheet with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds as St. Rose’s controlled the glass when it mattered most to seal the hard-fought victory.

The U16 division gave way to the marquee Under-18 finale, where President’s College once again showcased why it remains the country’s most formidable school team. Although Queen’s College stayed within striking distance early, PC tightened its defence, forced key turnovers and went on a decisive scoring run to cruise to a commanding 47-25 victory.

Dontrell Ross and Mattaniah Fordyce combined for 25 of President’s College’s 47 points, with Ross pouring in a team-high 14 points while Fordyce anchored the defensive effort with several game-changing plays that kept QC’s offence out of rhythm.

Individual honours reflected the standout performances throughout the week. Mattaniah Fordyce was named the Under-18 Most Valuable Player, Crandon Beckles claimed the Under-14 MVP award, Sarah Williams was deservedly crowned Girls’ MVP, while Nathan Williams earned Boys’ Under-16 MVP honours.

The 19th KFC National School Basketball Festival was proudly sponsored by KFC, Edward B. Beharry and Co. Limited., G-Boats Inc., the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Education.

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• Hururu Secondary, KFC, National School Basketball, Youth Basketball Guyana

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