Calabar's Travis Thomas drives past Manchester's Andre Brown during their encounter in the semi-finals of the ISSA/KFC Under-19 All-island competition at the Stadium courts. Thomas had a game-high 27 points to help Calabar edge Manchester 76-75.
-Ian Allen photo
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
IN THE most dramatic fashion, Calabar High barely survived a late surge by Manchester High to eke out a 76-75 win in overtime in their Under-19 ISSA/KFC National schoolboy playoff at the Stadium courts yesterday.
"As a basketball fan I live for these type of games," remarked Calabar's, coach Conroy Ritchie, whose fantasy could have been a nightmare had Manchester been more accurate from the free-throw line.
"I rather lose by 20 points than by one point," moaned the coach of Manchester, Dwayne Clarke, who lost in the semi-finals of the All-island competition for the second consecutive year. "I don't know when I'm going to get over this," he said.
Clarke's team started lethargic and each of his players seemed to be running from the responsibility of scoring, particularly in the first quarter when Calabar doubled his team's effort (24-12).
The lack of initiative continued in the second quarter and Calabar went up by as much as 16. In the midst of Manchester's stagnant offence, Keeble Wright helped to keep his team competitive by scoring 11 of his team-high 19 points in the second period. Gravane Langley finished with a double-double for Manchester with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Things turned around and Calabar started the third quarter woefully, committing six turnovers and allowed Manchester to come within three (44-41). Aside from an early 10-7 lead, Manchester never led until three minutes into the fourth quarter when they went up 55-54 and showed signs of knocking the highly favoured Kingston team out of the play-offs.
With the game tied at 64-64 and 13 seconds remaining in regulation, Kemar McLeish, who collected 24 points and eight rebounds, squandered a chance to give Calabar the lead after he bricked two free throws, leaving a glimmer of hope for Manchester.
Andre Brown's three-point attempt was too hard off the glass, however, sending the game in overtime.
Both teams traded baskets in the extra period but Travis Thomas with a game-high 27 points sank two free-throws and made a lay-up in the final minute after a tied score of 72-72.
Brown hit a clutch three-pointer and Manchester regained possession with two seconds left after a Calabar turnover. Langley received the in-bound pass with hopes of getting off a desperation shot but he was smothered by green shirts.
Calabar meet Old Harbour High in the final on March 20 after the latter outscored St. Andrew Technical High 54-51 in the day's other semi-final game.
