CC end Under-14 Basketball drought

Cornwall College (CC) ended its six-year drought in the ISSA Western Conference Under-14 Basketball title with a 49-39 victory over pre-game favourites St James High School last Thursday at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Court.

In the process, CC handed St James its first defeat of the season.

CC had finished runner-up to Herbert Morrison Technical High School for the past five seasons. The team showed character and experience to overturn a four-point half-time deficit to turn the tables on St James High. They were led by point guard Ryan Watson, who scored 18 points. Kemauny Welch top-scored for St James High with 15 points.

Coach of CC, Sheldon Pearce, admitted they drew confidence from their semi-final win over arch-rivals Herbert Morrison, and said they are looking forward to the all-island competition.

“What we did this season was to play each game on its merit. In the semi-finals, we knew we could beat Herbert Morrison and having done that, the next big challenge would be the high-flying St James High,” he said. “What we did was to concentrate on their main scorers and it worked in our favour. It (the victory over Herbert Morrison) acted as a confidence booster because it’s been six years since we’ve been battling with them, so I guess it was a given for us to beat St James High.”

Experience

He said that going into the all-island competition, the team was just going to try to do its best.

“We know that experience is going to be a factor, as these guys are fairly new. We are going out there to participate, see what we can learn and, hopefully, get some favourable results,” he added.

Omar Taylor, coach of St James High, said the pressure of being the pre-game favourites got to his boys, however, they are looking for a better showing in the all-island competition.

“I think most of it was just a result of nervousness, because it’s the first time these kids are getting so far in a competition. In a final, you know the pressure is there from the whole school and to carry banner like that at ages under-14 is not something easy,” he said. “However, all in all, it was a good fight, we wish we were the victorious one’s but it is just one of those days. We just have to recuperate and come back better and stronger next year.”

He said that for the all-island, they just want to stamp their names.

“So we are not necessarily going to win it but to show that there is a team from St James High. I think my team would be more focused so I’m expecting a stronger fight,” he added.