Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 5 September 2014 01:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Asian International School, Colombo got the better of Maris Stella College, Negombo 62-50 to take home the Sri Lanka Schools All-Island Boys’ Under 17 Basketball Championship, after an enthralling final played at the St. Thomas’ College courts in Mount Lavinia.
At the end of the first quarter, the match was well balanced with both teams level on eight points each. However, by halftime the AIS boys had a slender lead of two points. Maris Stella fought hard and was leading 39-35 at the end of the third quarter.
At the commencement of the fourth and final quarter, the determined AIS pack led by Taher Akbarally (28) and Damshika Piyasena (25) fought back to take the lead and end the game a comfortable 12 points ahead.
Taher Akbarally of AIS was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament title while Damshika Piyasena, also of AIS, was adjudged the Best Offensive Player. Shenuka De Alwis of Maris Stella was awarded the Best Defensive Player.
For Maris Stella the top-scorers were Shenuka De Alwis (21) and Nipun Fernando (10)
Earlier in the tournament, AIS beat St. Aloysius College Galle, St Peter’s College Colombo, Gateway College Kandy and De La Salle, Modera. In the quarterfinals, AIS trounced Royal College, Colombo (67-31) before beating S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia (48-41) in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Maris Stella beat Azhar College Akurana convincingly.
AIS remained the only unbeaten team in the zonal tournament held earlier as well as in the All-Island competition.
In the consolation final, S. Thomas’ College overcame Azhar College by one point in a nail-biting finish to secure third place. At the short whistle the Thomians led 26 points to 20. For the winners Amanda Gunawardena (17) and Tharusha Ellawella (10) were the best shooters, while Naazim Wasook (16) and Shahad Rameez (13) were the top scorers for Azhar Central.
The matches were played at De La Salle College, Mutwal, Gateway College, Rajagiriya, S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia at Asian International School premises.
AIS Team – Taher Akbarally (Capt), Gavin Ramsay, Chamathca Seneviratne, Damshika Piyasena, Shazon Perera, Somesh Ranasinghe, Vinsuka Sannasgama, Nelson Baek, Thurith Haputantri, Sabesh Sathiyanthan, Canaan Perera and Daniel David. The team is ably coached and guided by Ajith Kuruppu with K.W. Mitrasena as master in charge.
