Pretoria High School League 2008 report cards-Boys
Open Boys: St Albans College vs. Rosina Sedibane
This became a one sided affair with the boys from Rosina well in control. They had a very good point guard, good shooters and an excellent post in Tsepo running the offense against a shell shocked College team. And their defense was also on point with St Albans worried about the shot blocking ability of Rosina post Tsepo so they resorted to low percentage shots. Unfortunately for St Albans, Khaya and Quincy decided to have off days so their options on offence were limited. They were outplayed, outhustled and lacked the cutting edge required to win this contest. With a 20+ point lead in the 4th quarter, the boys from Rosina started entertaining the crowd with some AND1 moves that infuriated the opposition but had the crowd cheering. It was a well deserved victory for Rosina who remained unbeaten in the league this year and with the young players they have in their squad, they should defend their title next year.
U16 Boys: The Glen High School vs. St Albans College
The Glen High School (TGHS) were the underdogs going into this game. On the road to the final, St Albans had beaten Pretoria Boys High School who had beaten TGHS in their pool games so they were confident. TGHS played the whole season with a limited squad so their options on the bench were limited in case the coach needed to mix things up. St Albans also had a few team issues with some of their players taking part in a Rugby match in Johannesburg on the same day so all this made for an interesting game. TGHS started like a house on fire by restricting College to low percentage shots and making sure they controlled the board. They ran fast break after fast break and build a lead going into the 4th quarter. The whole Glen team looked like guards compared to the much taller St Albans team and they really played a smart zone defense to make up for their shortcomings in height. And with 2 minutes left they had a healthy 6 point lead and the finish line was in sight. But St Albans had other ideas and their guard Bame shot and made his only 3 pointer in the game and the pendulum swung in favor of St Albans who suddenly found the belief they could win this final. They reduced the deficit to take the game into overtime and everything looked in their favor when TGHS lost 2 of their starting 5 to foul trouble. With seconds to go in overtime, TGHS were trailing by 2 points and St Albans were ready to celebrate. But in keeping with the theme of the day, TGHS found an unlikely hero when one of their players shot a 3 pointer against the wishes of his coach and to his relief it went in thus winning the game by a point. It was wonderful game that kept the players, fans and coaches on their toes throughout but TGHS played their hearts out and were deserved winners.
U14 Boys: Willowridge vs. St Albans
By Katlego Malatji (Willowridge coach)
The match up of the teams in this years U/14 boys section looked extremely exciting on paper and for a second one could have been fooled into believing that it would be a tightly contested affair. Both teams came into the finals unbeaten and talking more smack than politicians.
St Albans blazed through the midweek pool easily blowing away teams like WRHS B-team, this, accompanied with the fact that all their teams qualified for the finals motivated the strong side which had humiliated Prestige College in the semi’s. The Willowridge outfit who had caused the upset of the decade by knocking out PBHS for the first time came into this game on the back of an unbeaten streak and mauling Clapham High in the semi’s, as if this wasn’t enough they had their seniors reminding them at every interval that they were the defending champions as Willows had won the title in 2007.
The game was almost evenly matched in the first three minutes as the teams felt each other out; Willows took shots that didn’t drop while College dominated both boards. This was to be the closest that this game would ever be as the well coached and assembled College team were turned into minnows by the hungry Willows side. The Willows point guard took control of the game and once the plays got going St Albans did a lot of ball chasing on D. Willows number 12 shooting guard also wanted in on the action and started a little target practice of his own. College forged a comeback in the second quarter but lady luck was on a timeout as their baskets just wouldn’t fall. The College point guard took matters into his own hands as he made a couple of breakaways but his team mates let him down as they didn’t follow him up to rebound. The coach was frustrated as the great plays he taught the boys came to nothing against a resilient and patient defence. Credit must go to the eventual league MVP Andreas Gossard who acted like a veteran on the court and devoured every loose ball, posted up like Shaq and fed his shooters all day. His dominance was felt by College and the coach couldn’t ask any more of his players who tried their utmost to stop him but lacked answers to his domineering presence. College never lost hope but once Willows got into teamwork mode there was no stopping them. Their confidence, quick hands and precise shooting was the dagger in the coffin. Willows coach’s Dumisani Shongwe and Theo Malatji never looked worried and did not celebrate much after the game as if they expected nothing less. Willows ended up running away with the game.
That’s two years in a row for Willows and an improvement for St Albans who didn’t have U/14’s in the semis last year. Willows seem to have a firm development programme and they have promised to defend it again next year, only time will tell.
LABOR OMNIA VINCIT