BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 29, 2016–The National Sports Council, which is in charge of primary school sports competitions countrywide, added a new twist to this year’s basketball Nationals, which included the six (6) female and male district champion schools. Not only did the two-day tournament produce a female and a male primary school national basketball champion team; but the gathering of players from across the country along with fans present for the occasion got a special treat this year, as the organizers also conducted an individual Skills Challenge, as well as a showcase All Star Game, in both female and male categories. All games were played at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Orange Walk Town.
At the beginning of the tournament on Friday, the schools were separated into Division A and Division B, with 3 schools each; and after a single round robin of games on Friday, the female and male semifinals and finals, third place and championship matches were all played on Saturday. The Skills Challenge followed, and the event culminated with the exciting All Star games. In an interesting coincidence, all six district champion schools provided both the female, and male champion teams for their respective districts.
Division A (female and male) featured Libertad Methodist from Corozal, Louisiana Gov’t from Orange Walk, and St. Martin De Porres from Belize District.
Division B (female and male) consisted of St. Francis Xavier from Cayo, St. Peter Claver from Toledo, and Holy Family RC from Stann Creek.
Friday: In summaries of female first round games on Friday: St. Francis Xavier 7-2 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 9-2 Libertad Methodist; Holy Family RC 10-4 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 15-4 Louisiana Gov’t; St. Francis Xavier 18-16 Holy Family FC; and Louisiana Gov’t 7-4 Libertad Methodist.
Male first round games on Friday were: St. Francis Xavier 16-14 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 44-4 Libertad Methodist; Holy Family FC 31-22 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 43-25 Louisiana Gov’t; Holy Family RC 17-14 St. Francis Xavier; Louisiana Gov’t 51-3 Libertad Methodist.
Saturday: On Saturday, in female semifinals, it was St. Martin De Pores 15-8 Holy Family RC, and St. Francis Xavier 11-6 Louisiana Gov’t. The third place game saw Holy Family RC with the 11-4 win over Louisiana Gov’t. And in the female championship game, St. Martin De Porres was victorious, 16-4, over St. Francis Xavier.
1st place for the females was therefore St. Martin De Porres (Belize District); 2nd – St. Francis Xavier (Cayo); and 3rd – Holy Family RC (Stann Creek). Female MVP was Shantel Flowers of St. Martin De Porres (Belize District).
In the male semifinals on Saturday, it was St. Martin De Porres 25-23 St. Francis Xavier, and Holy Family RC 32-11 Louisiana Gov’t. In the third place game, Louisiana Gov’t won, 26-20, over St. Francis Xavier. And in the championship game, it was again St. Martin De Porres with the 27-21 victory over Holy Family RC.
1st place for the males was therefore St. Martin De Porres (Belize); 2nd was Holy Family RC (Stann Creek), and 3rd was Louisiana Government (Orange Walk). The Male MVP was Elijah Gabourel of St. Martin De Porres (Belize).
Skills Challenge: One student from each team participated (6 male and 6 female). The challenge comprised of 5 different categories; and at the end, the total score from each category was added to get the final score. These challenges included: shooting – free throw and 3 point; lay-up; speed dribbling; obstacle course; and 2-ball dribbling. Medals were given to the winners.
For the females, Juanita Hamilton from Louisiana Gov’t took 3rd place with 28 pts; Ophelia Casimiro from Holy Family RC was 2nd with 31 pts; and the winner was Cherish Wade from St. Martin de Porres with 36 pts.
For the males, 3rd place went to Jaheed Longsworth from St. Francis Xavier with 33 pts; 2nd was David Smith of Louisiana Gov’t with 43 pts; and the winner was Lyndon Gentle from St. Martin de Porres with 48 pts.
All Star Games: The All Star games were the last of the weekend’s events before the closing ceremonies.
Representing the north zone (from Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize districts) in the female division were Tamara Gonzalez and Keely Banner from Corozal; Rica Gentle, Amanda Bowen, Juanita Hamilton, Raquel Moguel and Shenaia Vanegas from Orange Walk; and Sonte Gentle, Destiny Dominguez, Shantel Flowers, Cherish Wade and Gareth Bruce from Belize District, under the leadership of the winning coach of this division, Ryan Michael (Belize District). From the south zone (Cayo, Toledo and Stann Creek) were Denisha Canelo, Sherilee Mendez, Karel Avila and Nneka Young from Toledo; Shakinah Myers, Marquela Robateau, Lucy Anthony and Edith Miranda from Cayo; and Ashley Maximo, Nadia Casimiro, Leandra Ramos and Shandra Casimiro from Stann Creek, under the leadership of the winning coach in this division, Irene McKoy (Cayo).
Representing the north zone in the male division were David Smith, Brython Budd, Jair Tzib and Nathaniel Reyes from Orange Walk; Jaime Botes, Akeem Arana and Jayden Teck from Corozal; and Lyndon Gentle, Elijah Gabourel, Evan Welch, Karief Smith and Tarique Solis from Belize District, under the leadership of the winning coach of this division, Dijon Smith (Belize District). From the south zone were Evan Vernon, Elsnor Rodney, Jahson Nicholas and Jaylon Locario from Toledo; Shane Trapp, Jose Lerma, Shawn Trapp and Jaheed Longsworth from Cayo; and Theodore Saldano, Aaron Nasario, Gilroy Casimiro and James Martinez from Stann Creek, under the winning coach from this division, Wayne Casimiro (Stann Creek).
The north zone emerged as the winners of both male and female All Star games. The games, however, were very intense, and seemed to be a grand crowd pleaser. All Star Female MVP went to Shantel Flowers (Belize District) and Male MVP went to David Smith (Orange Walk).
St. Francis Xavier 16-14 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 44-4 Libertad Methodist; Holy Family FC 31-22 St. Peter Claver; St. Martin De Porres 43-25 Louisiana Gov’t; Holy Family RC 17-14 St. Francis Xavier; Louisiana Gov’t 51-3 Libertad Methodist.
Saturday: On Saturday, in female semifinals, it was St. Martin De Pores 15-8 Holy Family RC, and St. Francis Xavier 11-6 Louisiana Gov’t. The third place game saw Holy Family RC with the 11-4 win over Louisiana Gov’t. And in the female championship game, St. Martin De Porres was victorious, 16-4, over St. Francis Xavier.
1st place for the females was therefore St. Martin De Porres (Belize District); 2nd – St. Francis Xavier (Cayo); and 3rd – Holy Family RC (Stann Creek). Female MVP was Shantel Flowers of St. Martin De Porres (Belize District).
In the male semifinals on Saturday, it was St. Martin De Porres 25-23 St. Francis Xavier, and Holy Family RC 32-11 Louisiana Gov’t. In the third place game, Louisiana Gov’t won, 26-20, over St. Francis Xavier. And in the championship game, it was again St. Martin De Porres with the 27-21 victory over Holy Family RC.
1st place for the males was therefore St. Martin De Porres (Belize); 2nd was Holy Family RC (Stann Creek), and 3rd was Louisiana Government (Orange Walk). The Male MVP was Elijah Gabourel of St. Martin De Porres (Belize).
Skills Challenge: One student from each team participated (6 male and 6 female). The challenge comprised of 5 different categories; and at the end, the total score from each category was added to get the final score. These challenges included: shooting – free throw and 3 point; lay-up; speed dribbling; obstacle course; and 2-ball dribbling. Medals were given to the winners.
For the females, Juanita Hamilton from Louisiana Gov’t took 3rd place with 28 pts; Ophelia Casimiro from Holy Family RC was 2nd with 31 pts; and the winner was Cherish Wade from St. Martin de Porres with 36 pts.
For the males, 3rd place went to Jaheed Longsworth from St. Francis Xavier with 33 pts; 2nd was David Smith of Louisiana Gov’t with 43 pts; and the winner was Lyndon Gentle from St. Martin de Porres with 48 pts.
All Star Games: The All Star games were the last of the weekend’s events before the closing ceremonies.
Representing the north zone (from Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize districts) in the female division were Tamara Gonzalez and Keely Banner from Corozal; Rica Gentle, Amanda Bowen, Juanita Hamilton, Raquel Moguel and Shenaia Vanegas from Orange Walk; and Sonte Gentle, Destiny Dominguez, Shantel Flowers, Cherish Wade and Gareth Bruce from Belize District, under the leadership of the winning coach of this division, Ryan Michael (Belize District). From the south zone (Cayo, Toledo and Stann Creek) were Denisha Canelo, Sherilee Mendez, Karel Avila and Nneka Young from Toledo; Shakinah Myers, Marquela Robateau, Lucy Anthony and Edith Miranda from Cayo; and Ashley Maximo, Nadia Casimiro, Leandra Ramos and Shandra Casimiro from Stann Creek, under the leadership of the winning coach in this division, Irene McKoy (Cayo).
Representing the north zone in the male division were David Smith, Brython Budd, Jair Tzib and Nathaniel Reyes from Orange Walk; Jaime Botes, Akeem Arana and Jayden Teck from Corozal; and Lyndon Gentle, Elijah Gabourel, Evan Welch, Karief Smith and Tarique Solis from Belize District, under the leadership of the winning coach of this division, Dijon Smith (Belize District). From the south zone were Evan Vernon, Elsnor Rodney, Jahson Nicholas and Jaylon Locario from Toledo; Shane Trapp, Jose Lerma, Shawn Trapp and Jaheed Longsworth from Cayo; and Theodore Saldano, Aaron Nasario, Gilroy Casimiro and James Martinez from Stann Creek, under the winning coach from this division, Wayne Casimiro (Stann Creek).
The north zone emerged as the winners of both male and female All Star games. The games, however, were very intense, and seemed to be a grand crowd pleaser. All Star Female MVP went to Shantel Flowers (Belize District) and Male MVP went to David Smith (Orange Walk).