Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 14, 2011 Sports
– remain unbeaten in Royals Schools’ Championships
By Edison Jefford
The game is never over until it is over, and maybe Kwakwani Secondary School paid a heavy price to learn that lesson yesterday at the McKenzie Sports Club Court in Linden.
McKenzie High School came from clearly being out-played in 45 of the 50-minute game to win their second major battle 52-49 against another titan in the tournament.
The host were the Victory Valley Royals Schools’ Championships and the stage was set from the beginning for a keen showdown among two teams, either of which is favoured for the title.
However, Sheldon Noel was perfect in crunch-time situations for McKenzie High, scoring eight straight points from the free-throw line to help his team remain unbeaten. He scored 15 while Dwight McIntosh added 14 points.
After a dominant performance from Dominic Douglas, Kwakwani dropped all guards against the dangerous McKenzie High, opting to wind down the clock in a tactic that backfired badly. It was a mistake that could affect their standing in the tournament.
Douglas finished with 21 points while the controversial Dave Plass, who was officially reported for not having an active record of school attendance, added 10 points.
Kwakwani went up 44-32 with ten minutes expired in the second half of the game. Douglas was in control of the ball when he deliberately attempted to waste the time left.
However, McKenzie High rightly pressed on defence and the results were unnecessary turnovers that Parish Cadogan quickly converted for six unanswered points.
Suddenly, a crowd that clearly favoured McKenzie went from lethargy to ruckus in less than two minutes of intense basketball. It was an overwhelming whim of support.
Douglas caught himself and responded with two points that took the scores to 46-38, however an unassuming guard, Cadogan came right back with an ‘And-One’ play.
He helped McKenzie trail 41-48 before the ‘Noel Show’ began. Like an astute leader, the former junior national forward, took control of McKenzie High’s offence in crunch-time.
Noel led his team on a 7-0 run that helped them equalise with 48.3 seconds left in regulation time and basketball seemingly alive and well in the centre of the Mining Town.
After a timeout, it was Kwakwani’s ball, which was reliably placed in Plass’s hands but Noel got and took his chance to prove his worth on both ends of the court.
He forced a turnover after excellent defence on Plass, raced to the offensive end and went up for a lay-up that initiated a foul call. Kwakwani had no choice but to make contact.
The steaming hot Noel made no mistake; he finished both shots to put his team up 50-48 with less than half of a minute to play. The crowd went into celebration since it was the first time McKenzie High led in the second half of the game.
All was still not loss for Kwakwani after Plass was fouled attempting a three-point jumper with about six seconds left but the situation proved more than the national junior guard.
Plass shaped up at the free-throw line for three shots that would have equalised the game at 51 had he made them, but the opposite occurred; he scored just one of the three shots.
Kwakwani will be disappointed that they let a major game slide after dominating for most of the time.
McKenzie has now defeated both Linden Technical Institute (LTI) and Kwakwani, who are the titans of the 2011 tournament, all being favoured to win the title.
Earlier in the afternoon, LTI thrashed Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School 58-34 as Marlon Pollydore scored 19 points with Stanley McIntosh and Geoffrey LaRose scoring 11 points.
There was no player in double figures for Christianburg Multi. Keifer Tappin was their leading scorer with nine points. The competition continues today and tomorrow in Linden.
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