The stage is set for an exciting all-local finale in the Secondary Schools Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, with two top contenders, St Mary’s College (SMC) and Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS), set to battle for the championship trophy this Thursday.
Both teams earned their spots in the title game after dominating their semi-final matchups held earlier this week. SMC, the two-time defending champions gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive title, delivered a lopsided 40-12 win over Entrepot Secondary School (ESS) to lock in their finals berth. In the other semi-final, CCSS upset last year’s runner-up Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) with a confident 38-25 victory, booking their first championship appearance in recent years.
The SMC vs ESS semi-final got off to a sluggish start, with both teams struggling to find their offensive rhythm early. But SMC quickly pulled away in the later quarters, outscoring ESS by a wide margin to seal the blowout win. SMC’s star forward Daelan Magloire bounced back from a underwhelming performance in his previous outing to lead all scorers, putting up an impressive 18 points alongside five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Guard Ernel “EJ” Mason continued his consistent tournament run, chipping in 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the defending champs. Big men Zaieef Mann and Jaydin Monrose dominated the glass, each grabbing eight rebounds to anchor SMC’s strong interior defense and rebounding advantage.
For a outmatched ESS, forward Yanis Mathurin led the team with four points, while guard Kobe Francis notched three points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the losing effort. Center Judea Gregg was a bright spot on the interior, pulling down nine rebounds and adding two points for Entrepot Secondary.
In the second semi-final, CCSS – who finished third in last year’s tournament – proved their growth and dominated the game against the higher-ranked LHCSS. Leading the way for CCSS was David Chandler, who put together a monstrous all-around performance: 18 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and three blocks, anchoring every phase of the game for his side. Hanniah Martial added six points to the final score, while forward Kinnai St Croix notched six rebounds and five steals, and guard Leshon Francis matched St Croix’s steal total with five of his own to shut down LHCSS’s offensive opportunities.
The annual Secondary Schools Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament is hosted this year by Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation. All eyes will turn to the Beausejour Gymnasium this Thursday, May 28, when two undefeated red-badged teams face off for the coveted national under-16 crown. SMC will look to extend their historic three-year win streak, while CCSS will aim to pull off an upset and claim their first title in the tournament’s recent history.