Urban teams dominate ISSA Basketball semi-finals - Campion, JC, Calabar, and Camperdown into Wednesday’s finals

Four urban teams advanced to the finals of the ISSA Schoolboys basketball competition from the semi-finals, which took place at the G.C. Foster College last Thursday.

In Under-19 action, Old Harbour High shot 26 per cent from the field and were beaten 76-64 by urban champions Camperdown High. Camperdown shot 39 per cent.

Despite the poor shooting, Old Harbour surprisingly held Camperdown to a 32-32 first-half draw.

In the second half, Camperdown showed why they are the number-one seed and outrebounded 66-50 to pick up the win.

Matthew McGowan led Camperdown with 28 points, four rebounds, four blocks, and three steals.

Juvane Carthy and Nickel Wright added 14 rebounds each while getting 12 and nine points, respectively.

Marcus Higgs led Old Harbour with a triple double – 24 pts, 16 rebounds, and 12 steals. Derjean Royal added 17 points while Domonic Menzie scored 10 points and pulled down 28 rebounds.

In the second Under-19 semi-final, Calabar High outplayed their Montego Bay rivals, Herbert Morrison Technical, 74-59.

Tyres Jackson notched a double-double while leading Calabar with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Raheem Daley added an efficient 14 points and nine rebounds.

Anthony Thorpe and Ryheem Barrett led Herbert Morrison with identical numbers, 16 points and seven rebounds each. Cameron Morris grabbed 26 boards.

In Under-16 play, Campion College dismissed Manchester High 95-40 while putting on a clinic of offensive rebounding and pressing.

Micah-Imani Swaine led Campion with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine steals. Jonathan Morgan added 15 points and 24 rebounds.

Kevauni Marston led Manchester High with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

TUSSLE FOR SUPREMACY

The second Under-16 semi-final was more competitive and exciting as two urban teams tussled for supremacy.

Kymani Phillips, Xavier Keyes, and Jonah Cooper notched double-doubles while leading Jamaica College to a definitive 76-54 win over cross-town rivals Calabar.

Phillips got 22 points, 24 rebs, eight assists, and four steals. Keyes added 14 points and 20 rebounds while Cooper scored 13 points and had 10 steals.

Calabar’s Jahedi Campbell notched a triple double (17 pts, 14 rebs, and 12 blks) while teammate Antonio Prendergast notched a double-double, 17 pts, and 10 rebs in their loss.

It was a hectic game played at break neck speed, which saw the teams producing 24 turnovers apiece. Jamaica College outrebounded Calabar 69-34.

Both finals and third-place playoffs will take place on Wednesday, March 11, at G.C. Foster College.