_{Photo: Wesley College girls – 3x CSSSA Basketball Champions 2024}

by William Ysaguirre

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 9, 2024

_{Photo: Gwen Lizarraga High School girls – CSSSA Basketball Sub-Champions 2024}

The Wesley College girls won their 3rd consecutive Central Secondary Schools Sports Association (CSSSA) basketball championship, blowing away the Gwen Lizarraga High School girls, 26-12, in the finals at Swift Hall in the St. Martin De Porres parish, Belize City, on Saturday morning, December 7.

_{Photo: Kailee Godfrey – MVP}

MVP Kailee Godfrey led Wesley with 9 pts; Cedella Lanza struck from outside the arc as she put up 7 pts, and Clayian Swazo and Jeannie Staine netted 5 pts each.

_{Photo: Cedella Lanza – Top Scorer}

Primielee Hope led Gwen Liz with 5 pts, and Maya Bennett, Jonel Blease and Kenya Gabourel each threw in a bucket. Lakeisha Requeña chipped in a free throw.

_{Photo: Primilee Hope – Best Defense and Most Blocks}

The Edward P. Yorke girls dominated the Pallotti Gators, 37-8, in the consolation match for 3rd place, led by Jeniyah Welch with 14 pts. Jamika Benjamin struck twice from outside the circle for 12 pts, Deborah Ajaero put up 9 pts, and Kiyana Requeña tossed in a bucket. Neylanie Noralez led Pallotti with 4 pts, and Shirley Flores and Kalyana Gillett each threw in a bucket.

CSSSA president Melanie Williams and committee member Patrick Thompson presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions and sub-champions in the awards ceremony after the finals. The 3rd place winners, Edward P. Yorke received a certificate of participation.

Individual awards: Most Valuable Player – Kailee Godfrey (Wesley); Top Scorer – Cedella Lanza (Wesley); Most Blocks – Primilee Hope (GLHS); Best Defense – Primilee Hope (GLHS); Most Steals – Danika Lopez (GLHS).

_{Photo: Danika Lopez – Most Steals}

The Wesley College girls will represent the Central region at the upcoming National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) championships, to be held at the Swift Hall on Thursday and Friday, December 12-13. They will challenge the western champions – Sacred Heart College Scorpions, the northern champions – San Pedro High School Sharks, and the southern champions – Georgetown Technical High School.