Day one: Recap of the St John’s Basketball Tournament
St John’s College has opened its doors to visiting teams from across South Africa and beyond its boundaries for the 19th St John’s Basketball Tournament. Sponsored by Standard Bank, and in partnership with Avis Car Rental, the four-day tournament runs from Thursday, 22 February to Sunday, 25 February, and is the biggest basketball tournament in Southern Africa.
Competition across the three age groups on day one was hard-fought, and the hosts were able to score some fantastic wins.
The u13 and u15 hosts off to a good start
The St John’s u13 team held off Redhill School for a narrow 20-17 victory in their opener. Meanwhile, the u15 team, led by their star player Reza Creamer, was more convincing in their first outing, a 49-27 win over Saheti.
St John’s u19
In the St John’s 1st team’s opening contest of the u19 age group, the home side took full advantage of their home ground, facing nearby Parktown Boys’ High. Smooth passing from St John’s allowed them to dominate the contest, and their ability to turn defence into attack was also to the fore, as they secured a 51-30 win.
In their next outing, however, they were unable to overcome the defending champions, St Charles College, who exhibited great chemistry and a deep understanding of each player’s role on the court in a 50-39 victory.
The Pietermaritzburg school had earlier beaten Pretoria Boys High 33-29 to put themselves on top of Group A after day one.
St Albans and Maritzburg College game brought the heat
Two formidable sides met in their opening games in Group C, with St Alban’s College facing Maritzburg College, the recent winners of the Jenny Orchard Basketball Invitational.
They went toe-to-toe, each showing great strength and physicality, with thrust and counterthrust. However, it was St Alban’s who gained the upper hand, frustrating the KZN side as College saw the game slipping through their fingers.
In the end, St Alban’s ran out comfortable 66-45 winners to sound a warning to their future opposition.
One loss, though, will not end a team’s title aspirations. College was beaten in the group stage of the Jenny Orchard Invitational and went on to win the title by reversing their loss to Northwood. Likewise, St Charles College suffered a loss to St David’s Marist Inanda in the group stage of the St John’s Basketball Tournament in 2023, and they reversed that result in the final.
u19 Results
Group A
St John’s College 51-30 Parktown Boys’ High
St Charles College 33-29 Pretoria Boys High
Pretoria Boys High 36-22 Parktown Boys’ High
St John’s College 39-50 St Charles College
Group B
Hilton College 27-45 Northwood School
St Stithians College 54-25 St Peter’s College
Group C
Maritzburg College 45-66 St Alban’s College
Jeppe High 25-34 St David’s Marist Inanda
St David’s Marist Inanda 32-50 Maritzburg College
Jeppe High 34-48 St Alban’s College
Group D
Michael Mount 44-54 Michaelhouse
Waterford 31-44 Clifton College
Michaelhouse 45-25 Waterford
Michael Mount 34-26 Clifton College
Group E
Kearsney College 35-39 St Benedict’s College
St George’s College 45-60 Sacred Heart College
Group F
ESCA Wanderers 44-39 Falcon College
St Andrew’s College 35-65 King Edward VII
u15 Results
Group A
Saheti 27-49 St John’s College
Kearsney College 34-12 Clifton College
Group B
St Andrew’s College 51-35 King’s Linbro
Michael Mount 48-47 Maritzburg College
Group C
Pretoria Boys High 49-27 Northwood
St Stithians 56-29 St Peter’s
Group D
Soweto Academy 42-20 Jeppe High
King Edward VII 22-37 Hilton College
Group E
Michaelhouse 49-30 Sacred Heart
St David’s Marist Inanda 24-34 St Alban’s
Group F
St Charles 47-31 Mangaung Knights
Redhill 11-26 St Benedict’s
