CHANDIGARH, NOV 3 : Hosts St Xavier’s School, Sector 44 and Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 claimed the boys under-15 and girls under-19 titles, respectively, in the St Xavier’s Inter-School Basketball Tournament for boys under-15 and girls under-19 in the school’s courts here today.
St Xavier’s boys and GNPS-36 girls maintained their all-win records in their respective four-team Round Robin League to emerge winners.
Cheered by their colleagues, St Xavier’s boys just managed to clinch the title by overcoming a stiff resistance from spirited NPS boys by 45-37 in their last league encounter. It was a do-or-die battle both teams since they had won their two matches each in the league phase.
St Xavier’s played a well-planned game. In their first quarter they judged the weakness of their opponents and trailed by 16-9. However, they started asserting themselves in the second quarter with some fine baskets, they narrowed the margin by winning 9-3. At the end of second half, NPS were leading by one point (19-18). The evenly fought third quarter went in favour of St Xavier who won by 11-10. In the ding-dong battle with few minutes remaining, St Xavier’s went all out and sung good baskets to tilt the balance in their favour by winning the fourth and last quarter by 16-8 and claimed the trophy.
Khushan (14) and Sunit (10) were the winners’ principal scorers. Jaspreet (7), Kunal (5) and Gursher (5) also made good contribution for St Xavier’s. For NPS-18, Adi (12), Yuvraj (9) and Abhishek (11) served their team well.
In an inconsequential league match, St Kabir-26 defeated St Joseph’s School, Secto4 44. Gurtej (18), Ritik (12) and Garv (6) were mainly responsible for St Kabir’s victory. Jaskaran (11) and Dishant (10) were the main points scorers.
Riding on an outstanding performance of Anamika who top-scored with 20 points, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 defeated Sacred Heart of Sector 26 by 56-31 (quarter-wise scores 16-6, 18-2, 12-11, 1-12) for their third successive triumph in the four-team league for girls under-19.
Anamika (20), Kirti (18) and Jasmine (10) formed a formidable trio to outplay Sacred Heart. Talented Amrinder also made a fine contribution of six points.
Ridhima (16), Anmol (6) and Gurleen (6) reduced the margin for Sacred Heart.
In the second league match, New Public School-18 prevailed over hosts St Xavier’s School by 48-30. With this win, NPS finished runners-up with two victories and one loss.
Neha was seen in brilliant form as she scored from all angles to make 28 points. Akansha and Simiti contributed 11 and 7 points for the winners.
For Xavier’s Rajkamal (7), Rosemary (4) and Ijeoma (16) were the main scorers.
Kunal and Ijeoma, both of St Xavier’s School-44 were adjudged the best players of the tournament.
St Xavier’s Chairman Andrew Gosain, Director Mrs Mervyn Gosain and vice-chairman William Gosain jointly distributed the prizes.