Photo: Gwen Lizarraga High School boys – NSSSA Male Basketball Champions 2024
by William Ysaguirre
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Dec. 18, 2024
The Gwen Lizarraga High School boys won their 2nd (back-to-back) National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) basketball championship in the finals hosted by Nazarene High School at the Swift Hall in Belize City on Thursday and Friday, December 12-13.
Photo: Independence High School Invaders – NSSSA Male Basketball Sub-Champions 2024
The Gwen Liz boys dominated the Southern regional champions, the Independence High School Invaders, 67-37, in the championship final on Friday afternoon, as Amare Williams struck twice from outside the circle for 15 pts. MVP Jason Orosco followed suit from outside the arc and also jammed home some sky-hook dunks for 14 pts. Calvin Thurton posted 12 pts on fast breaks, and team captain Augustine Pitterson put up 8 pts in heavy traffic. Jauvann Morgan scored 7 pts, Damion Vernon hit a long trey for 5 pts, and Raymond Gentle, Jr. netted 4 pts. Antonio Miguel tossed in a bucket. For the Invaders, Denbert Lopez struck from outside the circle for 15 pts, Javier Martinez put up 10 pts, and Albert Lemus hit a long trey for 5 pts. Clive Westby scored 4 pts, and Tyriue Timmons threw in a bucket.
Photo: Jason Orosco – MVP
The Northern regional champions, the Bishop Martin High School from Orange Walk prevailed, 41-32, over the Western regional champions, the Sacred Heart College Hawks, in the consolation match for 3rd Place on Friday morning, led by Julian Gomez’s 13 pts. Winston Rose struck from outside the arc for 12 pts, Oshane Munnings posted 8 pts, and Jorday Cobarrubia scored 5 pts. Eldred Neal drained in a long trey.
Omari Bennet led the Hawks with 10 pts, but he was the only one in double digits. Dylan Segovia and Jerremy Carbajal scored 4 pts each, Deryn Amaro hit a long trey, and Jaden Morris, Rylan Rhaburn, Karim Zaiden, Yandel Wiltshire and Jasien Martinez threw in a bucket apiece.
Denbert Lopez had scored 27 pts, as the Invaders edged Bishop Martin, 52-50, to qualify to the finals in the opening game on Thursday evening. Tyriue Timmons put up 6 pts, Dean Augustine and Clive Westby scored 4 pts each, and Javier Martinez, Albert Lemus, and Dean and Clyde Augustine threw in a bucket apiece. Bishop Martin’s Julian Gomez struck from outside the circle for 22 pts, Oshane Munnings put up 9 pts, and Winston Rose posted 8 pts. Jorday Cobarrubia netted 7 pts, and Eldred Neal and Gabrielle Marcelino Ayuso each tossed in a bucket.
It was double your pleasure for the Gwen Liz boys as they doubled the Hawks, 60-27, in Thursday’s nightcap, led by Jason Orosco’s 20 pts. Williams posted 12 pts, Calvin Thurton put up 8 pts, and Ajar August and Michael Martinez netted 5 pts each. Vernon and Devon Bood each threw in a bucket, and Augustine Pitterson chipped in 2 free throws. Jeremy Carbajal led the Hawks with 13 pts, Xavi Trujillo netted 6 pts, and Karim Zaiden shot 4 pts. Yandel Wiltshire and Jasien Martinez threw in a bucket apiece.
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. GLHS’ Jason Orosco won the Most Valuable Player award.