Holy Redeemer girls, St. Martin’s boys are Nat’l Primary School Basketball champs
A total of twelve teams – 6 male and 6 female – representing the four corners of the country, took part in the 2014 National Primary School Basketball Championships, which got underway today at Bird’s Isle and at the National Sports Council’s (NSC) basketball court, both in Belize City.
The female games were played at Bird’s Isle, and after outplaying their opponents throughout the tournament, the Holy Redeemer girls of Belize City faced off against the girls from Louisiana Government School in Orange Walk – who had also “walked over” their competition – in the final.
It was certainly a thrilling showdown, as both teams battled for the top spot and played their hearts out in what was an epic championship rematch to last year’s female primary school basketball final.
The game was a close match, as neither team got a comfortable lead during the game; but in the end, the Holy Redeemer girls were determined to seek retribution and avenge the agony of last year’s defeat to the Louisiana girls.
This time, they edged out the Louisiana girls after a hard fought game and snatched the championship, winning by a score of 19-17, with Zaria Jenkins of Holy Redeemer being responsible for 16 of their 19 points, while AaliyahLeiva was the top scorer for Louisiana Government School with 6 points.
In the boys’ competition – which took place at the basketball court on the NSC’s compound at Rogers Stadium – the St. Martin De Porres boys of Belize City emerged victorious after trailing for almost the entire championship game that they played against Hopkins Holy Family RC School of Stann Creek.
As poised as they were, the visitors from Hopkins could not hold on to the lead when it came down to the final moments of the game; therefore, the St. Martin boys’ managed to come from behind and sneaked both the lead and the championship from under their noses, ending the game at 38-30.
It was a spectacular match, and the top scorer for St. Martin De Porres School was Raheem Baptist with 15 points, while the top scorer for Hopkins Holy Family RC School was Anthony Penate who scored 11 points.
Zaria Jenkins from Holy Redeemer was declared the female MVP, and Tyrece Usher from St. Martin De Porres was named male MVP.