Photo: San Pedro High School Sharks – NSSSA Female Basketball Champions 2024
by William Ysaguirre
BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 17, 2024
The San Pedro High School (SPHS) Sharks won the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) female basketball championship in the finals hosted by Nazarene High School at the Swift Hall in St. Martin De Porres Parish, Belize City, on Thursday and Friday, December 12-13.
Photo: Wesley College girls – NSSSA Female Basketball Sub-Champions 2024
The Sharks won the championship final on Friday afternoon, 16-10, over the 3x Central regional champions, the Wesley College girls. MVP Jahzara Pascual led the Sharks with 7 pts, last year’s MVP Aysha Acosta put up 6 pts, and Tiara Lara threw in a bucket. Jiselle Alvarado chipped in a free throw. Jeniyah Welch led Wesley with 6 pts, Jeannie Staine tossed in a bucket, and Kailee Godfrey and Amaya Nuñez each netted a free throw.
Photo: Jahzara Pascual – MVP
The Southern regional champions, the Georgetown Technical High School Egrets blew away the Western regional champions, the Sacred Heart College Hawks, 32-9, in the consolation match for 3rd Place on Friday morning, led by Celene Castillo’s 10 pts. Shaney Meighan and Emani Sandoval put up 7 pts each, and Jolene Aranda and Nicasia Moreira each scored 4 pts for the winners.
In the opening game of the tournament on Thursday afternoon, MVP Jahzara Pascual top-scored with 14 pts, as she led the Sharks’ 30-19 romp over the Egrets. Aysha Acosta posted 9 pts, Jiselle Alvarado netted 3 pts, and Jamilli McCaulay and Rexena Bowen tossed in a bucket apiece. Meanwhile, Celene Castillo led the Egrets with 8 pts, Emani Sandoval struck from outside the arc for 5 pts, Jolene Aranda scored 4 pts, and Nicasia Moreira threw in a bucket.
In Thursday’s nightcap game, Jeannie Staine and Jeniyah Welch each put up 7 pts to lead the Wesley girls’ 25-11 win over Hawks. Primilie Hope shot 5 pts, and Clayian Swazo, Kailee Godfrey and Amaya Nuñez each threw in a bucket. The Hawks were led by Nareini Valentine and Maleah Green with 4 pts each, Trevelle Lennen tossed in a bucket, and Jahxann Waight netted a free throw.
NSSSA president Francis Pascual presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions, sub-champions, and 3rd place winners at the closing ceremonies after the finals. SPHS Jahzara Pascual won the Most Valuable Player award.