The ExxonMobil National School Basketball Festival got off to an excellent start at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday, as GTI, St Roses High and Linden Technical Institute recorded easy wins and some much needed points.
Newcomer Ninian Vincente top scored with 12 points for Linden
In a preview of what is to come over the next nine days, the energy of school basketball filled the atmosphere. Government Technical Institute scored on the buzzer to deny Lower Corentyne an upset win, with the game ending 27 points to 25 points for the rookie GTI team.
Kofi Hassanah scored 10 points (including the game-winner) along with 11 rebounds, and Resean Barnwell supported with 8 points and 6 rebounds for GTI.
Tyrese Gibbons for Lower Corentyne scored 10 points and had 14 rebounds. Ricardo Swamber chipped in with 12 (4 three-pointers).
Kofi Hassanah scored 10 points (including the game-winner) for GTI
In the second game, former champions St. Roses High School made a winning start in defeating New Amsterdam Multilateral School 49 points to 40 points.
Junior national player Carmelo Man-Son-Hing Led from the front with 30 pts. Wayne Williams added 9 points for SRHS. For NAMS, Raekwon Williams scored 14 points, and Xavier Ferresco added 13 points in the losing effort.
The final game on Friday saw 5-time champions Linden Technical Institute humbling Tutorial High School 43 points to 33 points. Newcomer Ninian Vincente top scored with 12 points, while Damian Allen added 10 points and 5 rebounds for the boys from Linden. For Tutorial High School, Joel Lathan scored 7 points and 10 rebounds, and Zelciro Haynes scored 5 points and 11 rebounds.
Carmelo Man-Son-Hing of St Roses scored 30 points
ExxonMobil Guyana is the major sponsor of this year’s tournament with support also coming from the National Sports Commission, G-Boat Guyana, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, and Banks DIH Ltd.
