Herbert Cup, Batticaloa`s premier basketball tournament tipped-off today at the Herbert Stadium in St. Michael`s College and at Manipai Boys Town. Commencing the preliminary stages of the competition six group matches were played during the day.
Hosts, St. Michael`s College (SMC) took on Zahira College (ZC) in the intense tournament opener. Both teams were right at each other from the jump-ball as ZC led the game by a point going into the first quarter break. Coming back into the second quarter, SMC did take step back as they were only able to score 08 points while the lads from Colombo replied with 17. The Half time score read, 34-22 in favor of the visitors.
Stepping into the second half, the hosts replicated what they did in the maiden quarter and managed 18 points in reply to the opposition`s 17 in the third quarter. Zahira College, banking on the lead they acquired during the second quarter, added another 11 points in the final quarter and sealed the deal. The home team did add 15 points but the early lead took the game away with the final scores reading, 60-55.
The second match for the day was set between Trinity College, Kandy and Wesley College, Colombo. It was a walk in the park for the hill country lads as they won it comfortably, 62-36. Trinity College outscored the double blues in all four quarters, 12-09, 19-04, 12,06 and 19-12. Maris Stella College recorded their first win beating Mahinda College, Galle in the third match with the final scores reading, 37-53.
The fourth match for the day was played between St. Peter`s College (SPC) and Angel International School – Jaffna (AIS). The Peterites were taken by surprise as the Jaffna lads tightened the screws of the competition stealing the game away by three points at full time, 67-64. AIS led the game from the start scoring 23 points in reply to SPC`s 17. The second quarter did see SPC coming back with 18 points, but AIS added two extra to finish up with 20.
Both the teams stood equally in the third quarter scoring 15 points each, but the final six hundred seconds witnessed a close tussle that was eventually won by the northerners.
Photo Album – Herbert Cup 2018 (Basketball) – Day 1
Zahira College, crossing the white line twice on day one, came back to beat Trinity College, Kandy in their second match later in the day. Zahira College racked up a ten-point comfortable win as the final scores read, 54-44.
The final match for the day was played between, St. Michael`s College and Wesley College (WC). The hosts who missed out on the win earlier in the day, put the double blues down 66-59. SMC, top scored with 27 points in the first quarter while WC only managed to score 16. Even though WC did outscore SMC in the second quarter, 17-11, it was the third quarter that settled the game for the home team. 18 points in the third and another 10 in the fourth sealed their fate in the game.
