ST. CATHERINE held on to pull out a nail-biting 61-58 victory over Wolmer's Boys and book themselves a spot in the finals of the KFC/ISSA all-island basketball championships at the National Stadium courts on Thursday.
St. Catherine, who were playing their second game in a row, having defeated Jamaica College on Wednesday, started slowly and found themselves trailing 29-21 at half-time.
"They were a little fatigued and even their body language was tired, but we pulled through and we really showed a lot of fight," remarked an elated St. Catherine coach Lennox Lindo, who also saw his team beat Wolmer's in the Southern Conference finals.
"We'll be rested and we will be coming out very hard for the finals, our running game wasn't as good today but we will be going back to it," he added.
St. Catherine did in fact have to fight. Down by 11 points midway the third quarter, St. Catherine, led by the heroics of floor general Javan Bailey who had 25 points and 9 assists, and Noel Wright with 20 points and 7 rebounds, they clawed their way back to tie the game at 42-42 to eventually take the lead 44-42 with eight minutes left in the final quarter.
COSTLY TURNOVER
However, a costly turnover with 12 seconds led by Wright, who had an otherwise immaculate performance, saw Wolmer's regain possession. On the following inbound down by a point at 59-58 following two clutch free throws by their leading scorer Kerron Caine, the Heroes Circle side got the ball right where they wanted it, right back in Wright's hands.
Taking advantage of a St. Catherine defensive lapse which led to a brief open lane, Caine darted to the basket and quickly leapt high for what looked to be an easy lay-up. But heartbreak-ingly for Wolmer's what would have been his 31st point rolled around and spilled right back off the rim.
They were then forced to foul Bailey who then easily made his two free throws to ice the game for St. Catherine. St Catherine now have a chance to claim the double crown, as they await the winner of the St. Jago, Old Harbour game.
In the under 16 game Southern Conference champions Calabar easily got the better of Central Conference top team Belair, thrashing them 66-34. Omari Williams led the way for Calabar with a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double while Justin Day and Jarek Lewis each had 10 points for Belair.
K.M.
