Cornwall College, Manning's School battle for Under-19 crown

Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:

WITH THEIR best-of-three finals locked at 1-1 after two hard-fought games, Cornwall College and Manning's School will be gunning to crown themselves KFC Western Conference Under-19 champions when they meet in today's deciding Game Three at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts at 5:00 p.m.

In last Thursday's Game One, Cornwall College took a 1-0 lead after registering a good 77-70 win. However, Manning's averted a clean sweep on Monday when they won Game Two 93-79 to set-up today's decider.

Unlike their senior counterparts, Cornwall College's Under-16 team, which won last Thursday's Game One against Spot Valley 54-39, wrapped up its series on Monday by winning Game Two 58-44 to cop the Under-16 title.

In a game they dominated for the most part, Cornwall College won all four quarters - 9-8, 22-18, 13-12 and 13-5, much to the delight of their coach, Sheldon Pearson, who described their win as most deserving. Captain Christopher Smith, who had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Oshane Cunningham, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Obrian Shearves, who had 10 points, were all outstanding in Cornwall College's win. Nicholas Smith was Spot Valley's top player with 10 points.

Man-to-man

In the senior game, Cornwall College started out looking like they were ready to emulate their juniors' clean sweep as they rushed to a 6-0 lead. However, once Manning's began to settle, the tide steadily began to swing in their favour although they still lost the quarter 9-8.

"We came here today prepared to play hard man-to-man basketball because we were determined to extend the series to a third game," said Manning's," coach, Kenneth Blackwood. "You are going to see more of the same in Game Three as we intend to take home this title," Blackwood said.

March to victory

In the second quarter, the tide settled on Manning's' side as Richard Chambers, who had an amazing 59 points, and Troy Reid, who had 12, started their team's march to victory.

At the halfway stage they were up 51-42, which they extended to 71-64 at the end of the third quarter. When victory came, they were comfortably ahead 93-79 win.

"We played poorly today - we probably made only 10 out of about 40 free throws, which is just the way to lose a game," said coach Pearson, who was hoping that his seniors would have emulated the juniors.