ST Alban’s were left seething at the weekend when visiting Pretoria Boys’ High staged a famous come-from-behind victory in one of the fiercest basketball battles between the two schools in a long time.

Boys’ High, who had looked lethargic in the first three quarters, clinched the match 46-43 in the five minutes of overtime.

They were trailing behind when the host blew a six-point third-quarter lead in a match in which seven players – four from Boys’ High and three from St Alban’s – were ejected from the game.

The visitors’ point guard, Kutlwano Mafuluko, and shooting guard, Siphumle Qanya, each scored 10 points to hand their school victory, while St Alban’s skipper and forward Theo Ledwaba scored 12 in the home side’s losing effort.

The two teams had enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the league going into this match.

While Boys’ High finished the first half of the season unbeaten, the St Alban’s side struggled throughout with consistency.

St Alban’s took control of the game from the tip-off, going into a 11-7 lead in the first quarter with two three-pointers from shooting guard Junior Kganane and reserve point guard Keletso Pooe, who were given space by the Boys’ High defence to shoot at will.

Buoyed by their four-point lead going into the second quarter, the home side displayed attacking guile through starting point guard Mlungisi Mahlathini, who scored only two points in the first quarter, but had his best spell in the game in the second, scoring five points.

First Mahlathini got a two-point jumper and then he pierced the Boys’ High defence to score a lay-up and complete the three-point play from the line after he was fouled while attempting to score.

Boys’ High battled to get their game going as they found the home side’s zone defence tough to crack. They scored a single point from the free throw line, while St Alban’s added seven points to hold a 22-8 lead at the end of the quarter.

The third quarter belonged to the visitors, with point guard Kutlwano Mafuluko helping to cut the St Alban’s lead to six points with two two-point jumpers.

The home side added six points in the third quarter to claim a 28-22 lead.

In the final quarter, St Alban’s scored eight points to lead 36-33.

The side were looking good for victory until the visitors turned the game on its head, with shooting guard Siphumle Qanya firing in a three-pointer to send the tie into five minutes’ overtime in which  Boys’ High outscored St Alban’s by 10 points to six.

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. St Albans
• RBL: PBHS vs KES
• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. Jeppe Boys High School

Fast.. Break...

PRETORIA Boys’ High School preserved their 100 percent winning start in concluding the first half of the Johannesburg Schools’ Basketball League season in a match against King Edward VII School at the weekend.

The match, played at Boys’ High, will sadly also be remembered for the unnecessary heckling by some KES parents of the match officials at the end of the game.

Boys’ High maintained their unbeaten record by winning the tense match, which saw the KES coach ejected in the fourth quarter, 63-55.

Point Guard

The home side’s shooting guard Siphumle Qanya took his team to victory by hitting double figures in scoring 23 points in a brilliant individual performance, but he was followed closely by KES’s point guard, Justin Paton, who scored 22 points and produced two spectacular double handed slam dunks in the fourth quarter.

Boys’ High could have taken the lead had Simphiwe Skhosana not missed his two free throws for the hosts, who were generally poor at the line, in the first quarter of an evenly balanced game. But it was KES’s Paton who opened the scoring. But the hosts’ centre Emmanuel Shyne, who contributed 16 points to the Boys’ High victory, answered with an easy backboard lay-up.

Kutlwano Setshogoe, the  shooting guard of KES, who scored the bulk of his game total of 15 points in the first quarter, soon found himself in space to launch a three-pointer, but Boys’ High’s Qanya, also a proven scorer from outside the perimeter area, fired back for the hosts to tie the game at 7-7.

Setshogoe and Qanya went on to be the top performers of the first quarter, with 11 and nine points for their respective schools, but Boys’ High led by 18-17 at the end of the quarter. In the second period, Boys’ High seized the initiative. The home side’s zonal defence held firm allowing in only 13 points, nine of which came from Paton, around who the visitors’ offence revolved in this game.

Center play...

Centre Shyne also made his presence felt in defence as he blocked two scoring attempts by KES.  Boys’ High in attack scored 23 points to gain a break-away lead. Qanya was in his element again scoring two three-pointers and a two-pointer, while Shyne, who proved menacing with his height, chipped in with six points. Boys’ High skipper  Pearson Pretorius contributed four points, three of which came from the free throw line after he was fouled in attempting to score a three-point buzzer beater. The call incensed the KES coach, Filip Golubovic, who remonstrated with the referee, who stuck to his decision and Boys’ High finished quarter with a 40-30 lead.

Boys’ High were clearly in command of proceedings, but a demoralised KES caused the hosts to take their foot of the pedal, and Qanya made a final contribution of six points, while Zintle Twala and Dayo Morris, who both came off the bench, scored two free throws each, while Paton of KES scored three points from the line and a two-pointer as the visitors tried to stay in the game in the third quarter, but still trailed 51-41.  The home side remained in cruise control going into the fourth quarter, with Morris scoring six points and Shyne scoring three.

KES, clearly out of the contest, bowed out in style, however, with Paton scoring two dunks off the fast break. Unfortunately the match was spoilt by the KES coach’s incessant interference with the referee’s which ultimately saw him ejected from the game.

Article by Manyehlisa Lehohla

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL – KES Results 4th TERM – 2008
• RBL: King Edward VII School VS St. Benedicts – 7/02/2009
• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School 2008 results

Defense

ST Albans senior team was made fight tooth and nail for their victory against visitors St John’s at the weekend in the Johannesburg School’s League game which had NBA vice president for development in Africa Amadou Gallo Fall in attendance.

The city school earned a close 31-29 victory over St John’s  in a match that could have easily gone into over- time had the Johannesburg school used their scoring opportunity in the dying seconds of the last quarter.

The opening minutes of the first quarter were characterized by missing of scoring opportunities by both schools. St Alban’s captain and forward Theo Ledwaba, who was fouled in a scoring attempt, missed both his free throw attempts, the visitor’s guard Pele Collins missed what should have been an easy lay-up in a fast break move after the host’s turned over the ball.

St Alban’s point guard Mlungisi Mhlathini opened the scoring for his school with a easy lay up, but he failed to complete his three point play after being while scoring in transition. The host’s power forward Ismail Agbessi scored a sweet floater after a well worked passing move by the host’s in attack, which found the forward open and he made no mistake in scoring the basket.

Offense

Ledwaba top scorer for the hosts with seven points in the game, would also make amends for his earlier misses at the line when he scored an easy two points after a receiving a pass from playmaker Mhlathini for the hosts to lead 6-0. But St John’s would answer back through their forward Mzolisi Dube who scored four points to put the visitor’s back in the contest (6-4).

St Alban’s would finish the first quarter with a 9-6 lead with three more points coming from Ledwaba at the free throw line while Geoffrey Allsop scored the single basket for the visitors.

St John’s would a strong start in the second quarter with guard Collins scoring a basket after the visitor’s forced another turnover and Allsop levelled matters at 9-9 from the free throw line making one shot and missing the other. On seeing  that their lead was chipped away at St Alban’s were spurned into action nine baskets with Ledima Makgoba found an opening to launch a three pointer which he made, Keletso Pooe scored another three points from the line and Junior Kganane also found himself in space to score a three pointer. St John’s managed another two points but St Alban’s still stayed in command of the game at 18-13.

The third quarter St John’s outscored the homeside nine to seven in their attempt at a fight back with points coming from Dube, Jesse Bulabula, Collins and a three pointer from Michael Bailey, while St Alban’s retained their lead through Ledwaba and Thabang Gampone and three free throws for the 25-22 lead.

The fourth quarter was a do or die battle for both schools, Mhlathini scored opening basket of the quarter for the hosts, but shooting guard George Verughese cut the lead down to two points with his three pointer. But St Alban’s would hold on for the victory with four free throws scored by Omolemo Mathole and Kganane, while Allsop and two free throws Eric Manzi were not enough to help St John’s cause.

NBA vice president for development in Africa Gallo Fall was impressed with what he had seen and the spirit the players had shown in playing the game.

Gallo Fall

“Like the boys passion. It is clear the they were having fun and they played with good spirit,” said Gallo Fall. “I’m glad I came as I heard great things about the game at this level and to see young people support this sport is also a positive thing.”

Article by Manyehlisa Lehohla

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. Jeppe Boys High School
• RBL: St Albans vs. Sacred Heart – 07/03/2009
• KES RBL results – 2008/2009 season

Boys’ High captain and point guard Pearson Pretorius led the game in scoring with 17 points and he was followed by teammates Kutlwano Mafuluko (15 points), Emmanuel Shyne (14 points) and Simphiwe Skosana (12 points) all recording double figures in their emphatic 40-point victory over the Johannesburg school.

.

It was the boys in the green and red of Boys’ High who made the strong start in the opening quarter, taking an 9-1 lead in the first five minutes of the game, with centre Shyne opening his account with a easy lay up a over visitors’ brittle defence. Shyne would later be substituted after committing two early fouls.

.

Pretorius joined the scoring frenzy carving an opening through the Jeppe  defence for his first two points and also showed his  agility by scoring a two-point jumper. Guard Siphumle Qanya completed a three-point play after scoring his opening two, but was fouled in the process and scored the single shot from the free throw line.

.

Boys’ High would score a further 23 points with Pretorius scoring nine more, including a three pointer, while forward Ludewig Gerdes, who proved to be a handful at the post position also scored nine points as the home side finished the quarter with a 32-12 lead.

.

With the game clearly over as a contest, Boys’ High picked up where they had left off in the second quarter, scoring 28 points, while Jeppe could only manage 14.  Boys’ High’s Mafaluko started the deluge at the free throw line and he made no mistake in slotting in his two free shots for his four points in the quarter. Pretorius helped himself to six points and also showed all round play making skills when he sublimely passed the ball to Shyne, who rose above the opposition defence for the single hand slam dunk which elicited wild cheers from the Boys’ High supporters. Shyne made himself a proper nuisance with his height, scoring four more points.

.

Boys’ High’s guard Skosana completed the scoring with nine points, for the home side to lead the game 60-26.

.

Jeppe managed a good spell in the third quarter, out scoring Boys’ High by 14 points to nine with the visitors’ forward Boni Syiothula notching eight.
Syiothula would end the game with 14 points, but the home side maintained their lead (69-40).

.

Boys’ High, who had a thin bench, used it sparingly and could not add points to the scoreboard in the third quarter after they lost their captain to injury.

.

In the final quarter Boys’ High re-asserted their dominance with Mafaluko and Skosana scoring three pointers each. They finished the quarter with five points each and the home side comfortably finished the final session with 20 points, while Jeppe could only score nine.

Article by Manyelisa Lehohla

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. St Stithians – 7/02/2009
• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. St Albans
• RBL: PBHS vs KES

St Alban’s won the match 38-32.

The hosts got off to a jittery start in the first quarter, but a Junior Kganane three pointer proved to be the right tonic to settle their nerves as St Alban’s began to assert their authority on the game. St Alban’s would go to score two more points through forward Theo Ledwaba, for the homeside to lead the game 5-3 at the end of the quarter, while the visitor’s three points were scored by Wandile Ngwenya, who scored two points  and Sibusiso Semelane, who could only make one shot from his two free throw attempts. Ngwenya finished the match as the top scorer with 11 points.

St Alban’s came into the second quarter a more energized team as they found scoring opportunities easy to come by, with guard Thabang Gampone scoring five points – two from the free throw line and a three pointer and homeside’s point guard Mlungisi Mhlathini chipped in with four points as St Alban’s scored a total of 13 points in the quarter for a 18-9 lead, while a brilliant defensive effort by the hosts saw KES score only six points.

In  the penultimate quarter St Alban’s  were still in control of the game, scoring 11 points, but the hosts also seemed to have tired at this point of the game and St Alban’s coach Victor Fouda looked to his substitutes  bench to give the hosts a lift but it proved futile as they struggled to score more points. KES managed to score eight points but still trailed the match 29-17.

In the final quarter a tired looking St Albans took to the court, while KES on the other hand came alive and took the match to the hosts. The visitor’s scored 13 points with eight of them coming from Ngwenya, while St Alban’s managed nine points with five coming from the free throw line. Despite their fourth quarter mini-collapse, St Alban’s managed to hold out for the six point victory.

Article by Manyehlisa Lehohla

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL: PBHS vs KES
• RBL: St Albans vs. St Benedicts
• RBL – KES Results 4th TERM – 2008

A game high 19 points by Boys’ High’s Siphumle Qanya helped the hosts run out 48-29 victors over their opponents, who have now lost two matches in a row after losing their opening match against St Benedicts.

The first quarter got off to an uninspiring start as both teams struggled to break one another’s defences and it was not surprising that the scores were level at 4-4 come the end of the quarter.

In the second stanza the hosts seized the initiative by applying a high pressure defence on St Albans’, which worked like a charm as it opened the game up more and yielded 12 baskets for Boys’ High when they attacked.

Qanya and Simphiwe Skhosana lead the Boys’ High scoring break out in the second quarter, with the latter, scoring four points to add to the single basket he scored in the first quarter and the former contributed two points from the free throw line and a three pointer which came in the dying seconds of the quarter.  St Albans on the other hand managed another four points as they proved to be blunted in attack. St Albans’ were left chasing the game with scores at 16-8 in favour of Boys’ High at the end of the second quarter.

In the third period St Albans’ enjoyed their best spell in the game, with Boys’ High seeming to have taken their foot of the pedal. The hosts managed nine points and were still in the lead (25-22) at the end of the quarter, St Albans managed to outscore Boys’ High by five points more. The visitors captain Theo Ledwaba contributed four points to his total of five, guard Mlungisi Mahlatini scored a single point from the free throw line and also hit a three pointer and Ismail Agbessi, who finished as the visitor’s top scorer with eight points, scored four and Omolemo Mathole landed a single basket to what would look like a St Albans’ fight back, but only proved to be a smoke screen.

On seeing that the St Albans’ were within touching distance of their lead Boys’ High returned to the fourth and final quarter a rejuvenated team and stepped up their efforts with Qanya being the protagonist as he broke into a scoring frenzy ending the quarter with 12 points and the host’s captain and point guard Pearson Pretorious , who started the game poorly adding four points to his total of six points and Kutlwano Mafuluko scored a three pointer to finish the game with eight points to help the hosts to their victory charge.

St Albans clearly had no answer to the homeside’s inspired fourth quarter scoring run and seemed to have lost the stomach for the battle as the managed a paltry seven points in their second defeat in a row.

Article by Manyehlisa Lehohla and edited by Victor Shakineza

Other articles you might enjoy

• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. St Albans
• RBL: PBHS vs KES
• RBL: Pretoria Boys High School vs. Jeppe Boys High School

Other articles you might enjoy

• GSBC 2009 results for term 3
• Gauteng University Basketball League 2010
• GBA Elective AGM 2010

Information provided by Neo Mothiba

Other articles you might enjoy

• Tuks Basketball Junior Camp
• Gauteng U18 trials
• DSG 2009 playoffs tournament

Information provided by Neo Mothiba and edited by Victor Shakineza

Other articles you might enjoy

• 2009 Pretoria High School League wrap up
• Pretoria League 2008 individual awards
• Pretoria League 2008 final results

Other articles you might enjoy

• St Mary’s DSG Basketball Play-Offs
• USSA GAUTENG VALENTINES WELCOME TOURNAMENT.
• UJ beats UP in the 2010 intervarsity