Champs Northwood win opener at St John’s College Basketball Tournament
The defending champions, Northwood, and the hosts, St John’s, got off to winning starts on Thursday at the St John’s College Basketball Tournament.
Recent Highveld rains threatened play on the opening day, but the organisers arranged to move matches to indoor venues, and games in the 20th edition of the event went ahead as scheduled.
All eyes were on coach Kent VanderYacht and his talented Northwood High School team, who had won the title in dominant style last year.
Johannesburg’s King Edward VII, 2024’s beaten finalists, will be aiming to take down the Knights this time around, but it’s going to take a top effort and high-level execution.
With it being the opening day of competition, there was plenty of nervous energy in the air as teams set out to make a statement in their first outings.
Northwood’s first challenge was a showdown with Jeppe High School for Boys. The Durban school quickly their dominance, working their way into a 13-point lead after 24 minutes of play.
Try as they might, Jeppe could not mount a comeback and the champions rolled to a comfortable 20-point win, triumphing 65-45.
In another Group D clash, Pretoria Boys High beat the International School of South Africa 40-25.
St John’s College eased to a 20-point win over St Andrew’s College in their Group A opener, while the 2023 champions, St Charles College, won by six over St George’s College, of Harare.
In Group B, KES was extended by the American International School of Johannesburg but came away with a 32-30 win. The King’s School Linbro Park also bagged a W, defeating St David’s Marist Inanda by nine points.
Hilton College got their campaign off to a winning start in Group C, taking down St Alban’s College 30-22, while Alma Mater International School recorded a five-point win over St Peter’s College.
Sacred Heart College had no problems with a St John’s Invitation team in their Pool E opener, while St Benedict’s College won 33-24 against Michael Mount Waldorf School.
In Group F, St Stithians handed Parktown Boys’ High a 26-19 loss, while Maritzburg College edged out Falcon College, of Harare, by a single point.
RESULTS
Group A
St John’s 43-23 St Andrew’s College
St Charles 32-26 St George’s College (Zim)
Group B
King’s School Linbro Park 32-23 St David’s Marist Inanda
King Edward VII 32-30 American International School of Johannesburg
Group C
Alma Mater International School 33-28 S Peter’s College
Hilton College 30-22 St Alban’s College
Group D
Jeppe 45-65 Northwood
International School of South Africa 25-40 Pretoria Boys High
Group E
Sacred Heart College 20-0 St John’s Invitation
Michael Mount 24-33 St Benedict’s College
Group F
Parktown Boys’ High 19-26 St Stithians
Maritzburg College 21-20 Falcon College (Zim)
