Thomians stun Peterites; Gateway Kandy registers maiden win

All Island U19 A Division Boys ThePapare Basketball Championship commenced today with two matches being played at the St. Peter`s College basketball court premises in the B Group. S.Thomas` College won the first match edging out the hosts 50-39. The second match was won by Gateway College, Kandy as they beat St. Sebastian’s College – Moratuwa 58-43.

St. Peter’s College – Colombo 04 v S. Thomas` College – Mount-Lavinia

The Thomians won the jump ball yet failed to convert it to a scoring opportunity. Rajintha took charge on the other end as the hosts opened the season with a shot from downtown and led the game 3-0. The defense of the Peterites was top notch but the transition to offense was not in full swing. The fast breaks weren’t brought into full value as they the ball just rolled off many times. Missing a host of points due to that St.Peter`s College trailed the first quarter 09-14.

Bens out-do Gateway in two extra time periods

Adding fourteen points in the second quarter, the hosts made inroads to the game. The man-to-man defense did the trick as many possessions of the opponents were halted. Even though the home team had fourteen points on the card, the finishing touches of almost all their shots weren’t there to be found. The Thomians lost the plot as their rebounds died and penetration into the defense was out of course.

Halftime – St. Peter’s College – 23   S.Thomas` College – 18

With six minutes remaining for the end of the third quarter the game was squared 24 all. Thomians finding lost touch penetrated into the defense and kept on ticking the scoreboard. The substitution of the players by the Thomian coach was the key to their performance. He made sure he rotated all the five players and the players on the bench so that all his key players will have the stamina to give it all in the crucial times. Visitors added sixteen points into the quarter in reply to the nine points scored by the hosts.

It was the final six hundred seconds act that changed the entire fate of the game. The Thomians stepping into it off a two-point lead added another sixteen points. The Peterites lost the game plan execution as it was a drought of points for them. Hosts only managed seven points and with no rebounds and rattled defense, it was a tough ask to keep the lads from Mount-Lavinia invading territory.

Full-Time Score  – St.Peter`s College – 39 S.Thomas` College – 50

ThePapare.com spoke with coach of St. Peter’s College Sivashakthi Selvaraja on why  St.Peter`s College lost the plot in the final quarter and he said,

It’s the first game of the tournament and the team is quite unsettled as yet. A few of my players are playing with the flu so we did have some fitness and stamina issues towards the end of the game. But it was a good game and we will look forward to rectifying our mistakes and moving forward

ThePapare.com player of the match – Kanishka Kattipeararachi (S.Thomas` College – Mount Lavinia) 

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 Photo Album : ThePapare Basketball Championship 2016 – Group B | 08.07.2016 

Gateway College – Kandy v St. Sebastian’s College – Moratuwa

Gateway College led the game from point go. Drawing first blood they maintained a constant scoring rate during the entire match. Even though St. Sebastian`s College got to a fair start they failed to keep up constancy. Kandy lads added fourteen points in the maiden quarter in reply to the eleven scored by the Bastians.

Lyceum Wattala clinch final group game of ThePapare Basketball Championship

Having a drop in the points, the Moratuwa lads only managed to add eight points in the second quarter. It was doubled at the other end as Gateway College added sixteen points. The accelarated scoring rate slightly took the game away from the Bastians. Gateway College executed the game plans and went onto penetrating the defense with ease. The shot selection was on point as all the field-goal positionswere well selected off the defense by the Kandy lads.

It was a matter of rebounding and tightening the screws in defense for the home team. Gateway College added eight and twenty points for the third and the fourth quarter respectively. Even though the lads from Moratuwa had half a chance in the game during the third quarter scoring fifteen points, once gain they failed to keep up consistency as they only added nine in the final quarter.

Full Time – Gateway College Kandy – 58 St. Sebastian`s College – 43

ThePapare.com player of the match – Disura Dissanayake (Gateway College – Kandy)

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