St George's, Cornwall in top showdown

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

St George's College will face Cornwall College in today's feature semi-final clash in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/KFC all-island Under-19 schoolboy basketball competition at the National Stadium Courts, starting at 4 p.m.

In the day's other semis, former champions Wolmer's will oppose Herbert Morrison at the Montego Bay Cricket Club at 4 p.m.

The North Street-based St George's College team are buzzing with confidence after they thrashed Belair High 69-41 in the quarter-finals.

However, today's game is expected to be an exciting encounter as both teams are evenly matched in all departments. It will also be a big clash at the centre position between St George's College's Odane Cranston and Cornwall's Jhaun Bryan.

Confident

"We are very confident because we have been preparing thoroughly and the boys have been working very hard for this," said Clifford Brown, coach of St George's College.

Brown added that they are coming to play five against five because they want to make sure that they stick to basic fundamentals by playing their style of game.

"We know that they are a good team and we are not going to underestimate them because we have done our homework and we are now ready for the challenge," Brown noted.

The light blues will be depending heavily on their Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate and forward, Khaleel Smith, and point guard Huntley Cameron.

Cornwall College are seeking their first lien on the trophy and, according to their coach, Sheldon Pearson, it is going to be a tough task for them.

"We are going to treat this game like it is the final because if we don't win tomorrow (today) then we are out of the competition," said Pearson.

Emphasis of defence

He added he is going be placing a lot of emphasis on defence because once they can put their opponents under a lot of pressure, then they should be able to outscore them.

"I think is going to take a total team effort from us if we are going to win this game. But our boys are in good spirits and are raring to go," said Pearson.

The Montego Bay-based Cornwall College will place their hopes in the hands of point guard Gavin Brown and forward Ricardo Grevees.

Meanwhile, defending champions Ardenne and Jamaica College will meet in the finals of the Under-16 competition at the National Stadium Courts, starting 4 p.m.