BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 17, 2016–Today at Bird’s Isle, 8 teams, 4 male and 4 female, were present to play for the title of the Belize District Primary Schools Basketball Champions.
The male teams were: Belize City 1st place, St. Martin De Porres, and 2nd place, Belize Elementary; Belize Rural 1st place, Hattieville Government, and 2nd place, San Pedro RC.
Female teams were: Belize City 1st place, St. John’s Anglican, and 2nd place, St. Martin De Porres; Belize Rural 1st place, Burrell Boom Methodist, and 2nd place, San Pedro RC.
Female Games
St. John’s Anglican defeated San Pedro RC, 16-3. Taliyah Hyde and Kelis Thurton scored 6 pts each for St. John’s, while Jeinna Galvez scored a single basket for San Pedro. San Pedro was eliminated, and St. John’s Anglican advanced to the championship match.
St. Martin de Porres defeated Burrell Boom Methodist, 17-1. Shantel Flowers was the leading scorer for St. Martin with 9 pts, followed by Gareth Bruce and Cherish Wade with 4 pts each. Jensy Fuentes scored the only point for Burrell Boom. St. Martin advanced to the championship match to face St. John’s Anglican, who had already beaten them twice, once in regular season and once at the Belize City Finals.
In the championship match, St. Martin de Porres defeated St. John’s Anglican, 12-11, making them the Belize District Champions. Shantel Flowers was again the leading scorer for St. Martin with 7 pts, followed by Cherish Wade with 4 pts. Ashanti Lopez of St. John’s led her team, scoring 4 pts.
Male Games
St. Martin de Porres defeated San Pedro RC, 26-25. St. Martin’s point guard, Elijah Gabourel led his team, scoring 9 pts, and Evan Welch scored 7 pts. Ian Pou scored 12 pts for San Pedro RC, and Tionne Paguada scored 8 pts. San Pedro was eliminated, and St. Martin de Porres advanced to the championship match.
Belize Elementary defeated Hattieville Government, 17-8. Gabriel Coye was the leading scorer for BES with 6 pts, followed by Eric Williams with 4 pts. For Hattieville Gov’t, Jaheed Baptist and Jermaine Garnett scored 3 pts each. Belize Elementary advanced to the championship match to face St. Martin, who had already beaten them twice, once in regular season and once at the Belize City Finals.
In the championship match, St. Martin de Porres defeated Belize Elementary, 39-23, making them the Belize District Champions. Elijah Gabourel was again the leading scorer for St. Martin with 16 pts, followed by Lyndon “Fresh” Gentle with 11 pts. Eric Williams of BES led his team, scoring 8 pts, and Alex Ariola scored 7pts.
The Nationals
Next week Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27, St. Martin de Porres (male and female) will represent the Belize District at the National Primary Schools Basketball Championships in Orange Walk Town.
The National Sports Council would like to thank all Belize District schools who participated in this year’s basketball tournament. We look forward for your participation in 2017.