Big guns bring their A-games as big tournaments draw near
The weekend’s games captivated the community of basketball enthusiasts as sides sharpened their claws ahead of two big tournaments to be held later this month – Maritzburg College‘s Jenny Orchard Invitational and the St John’s Basketball Tournament.
In KZN, Northwood delivered an impressive performance against Kearsney College, with the Knights winning a very high-scoring, hard-fought contest 98-88 at the Skweyiya SportZone.
It was Kearsney’s fourth outing of the term, and the challenge they faced was their biggest yet. Northwood, under the guidance of coach Kent Vanderyacht, has become a formidable outfit, arguably the best team in the country over the past two years, which included back-to-back titles at the St John’s Basketball Tournament.
It might, therefore, have been viewed as a David versus Goliath Bible clash, but Kearsney, who won the Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament on their home court in late 2025, was not a pushover. They’ve been in good form, but they faced a talented Knights’ line-up, which included Siyamthanda Shabalala, a South African u18 national player, and the prolific Awande Chiliza, two of the architects of the Knights’ dominant run.
In oppressive heat, the games kicked off at an exciting pace, with Kearsney quickly establishing a 7-1 advantage. However, the wear on the Kearsney defence from Northwood’s attacking forays resulted in the visitors being sent to the foul line early and often. With their sights on target, they picked up 12 points from the free throw line and finished the first quarter with a narrow 20-17 lead.
Kearsney kept taking it to Northwood, but each time they threatened to overhaul the Knights, Northwood found a response. By halftime, they had extended their advantage to seven points and led 45-38.
The third quarter marked Kearsney’s most successful offensive period, as they tallied an impressive 28 points. Top teams, though, find a way to repulse challenges, and Northwood added 30 of their own. As the contest entered the final quarter, they enjoyed a 75-64 lead.
All credit to Kearsney, they didn’t lie down. In fact, they edged out Northwood 24-23 over that quarter. Victory, though, went to the Knights by a 10-point margin. With 186 points scored, it was a richly entertaining clash.
Key players for Kearsney included Daniel Prinsloo, a regular starter and a crucial contributor, alongside Pabatso Sithole. They scored 17 and 16 points respectively. Kwa Sibiya and Lubansi Msuleku added 10 each, Ithu Khubeka scored nine, and Kabo Ramadobedi finished with eight points.
Northwood’s challenge was boosted by 25-point outputs from both Siya Shabalala and Awande Chiliza, while Simamukele “Sims” Vacu contributed nine points.
In Durban, the home team, Durban High School (DHS), withstood the crippling heat of the outdoor court’s hot surface, and they also handled Hilton College‘s onslaught to come away with a 60-49 victory.
Westville Boys’ High, meanwhile, shut down Clifton College, romping to an 85-29 victory behind a solid defensive performance, which featured effective fast breaks when they turned over possession.
Maritzburg College, after winning the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) Basketball title, is preparing for the annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Tournament, and would dearly love to add a second title in their home tournament.
They faced St Charles College, whom they had beaten in the semi-finals of the AISJ tournament and showed their form remains red hot, charging to a 70-49 win in the SK Arena.
In Zululand, Empangeni High School claimed a narrow 29-26 victory over Aquadene Secondary School in a match distinguished by exceptional sportsmanship.
In the Eastern Cape, St Andrew’s College celebrated a 63-44 victory over Queen’s College, while Grey High defeated Kingswood College by a narrow four-point margin, 34-30.
In Gauteng, St John’s College faced one of their toughest annual challenges when they took on St Benedict’s College, with both teams eager to claim a prestigious scalp ahead of the St John’s Basketball Tournament. In a fierce contest, Bennies recorded a tough 41-32 win.
The game marked an important milestone for Bahlebonke Mazibuko, the St Benedict’s captain, who earned his 100th cap for the first team. His achievement was recognised with praise for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and consistency in representing the Bennies’ basketball team.
King Edward VII School (KES), the runner-up at the St John’s Basketball Tournament in 2024 and the ninth-place finisher in 2025, continued their strong season with a 65-40 win over Jeppe High School for Boys. St Stithians College, meanwhile, scored a nail-biting 39-38 win over St Alban’s College.
Michaelhouse visited Gauteng and played twice. They pushed the high-flying ESCA all the way, but eventually fell to a 33-36 defeat. ‘House, though, picked up a win over St David’s Marist Inanda, triumphing 36-32 in an evenly-contested clash.
RESULTS
KwaZulu-Natal
Northwood 98-88 Kearsney College
Maritzburg College 70-49 St Charles College
Durban High School 60-49 Hilton College
Westville Boys’ High 85-29 Clifton College
Eastern Cape
St Andrew’s College 63-44 Queen’s College
Grey High 34-30 Kingswood College
Gauteng
KES 65-40 Jeppe
St Benedict’s College 41-32 St John’s College
ESCA 36-33 Michaelhouse
St Stithians College 39-38 St Alban’s College
St David’s Marist Inanda 32-28 Michaelhouse
