KES’s dominance continues, wins for Maritzburg College and Northwood
Exams are hurtling into view, and with that the 2025 schools’ basketball season is also set to come to an end this coming weekend. On the weekend past, a number of schools also played their last matches of the year.
KwaZulu-Natal
Northwood vs Clifton
In KwaZulu-Natal, Northwood, the winners of the St John’s College Basketball Tournament for the past two years, faced off against Clifton College.
In a dominant win, Northwood showcased their depth and talent.
However, the contest was not solely controlled by Northwood’s regular starters. Several uncapped players were also given an opportunity to experience first-team basketball. That served as valuable preparation for the Knights‘ basketball team for the forthcoming year, considering that several matriculants will depart the school following their exams.
The primary group of Northwood’s starters, except for their South Africa National Team u18 player, Siya Shabalala, who was unavailable, played for the first half and established a commanding lead.
In the second half, adjustments were made, and those who began the game on the bench entered with confidence and composure, upholding the Knights’ championship mentality and standards, while continuing to extend their lead on the scoreboard.
There was some outstanding scoring from Awande Chiliza, who dropped 24 points, while Sims Vaku contributed 23 points and expertly managed the tempo from the guard position.
By the final whistle, Northwood had almost doubled up Clifton, scoring a decisive 85–43 win.
Kearsney College vs Glenwood High
At Glenwood High, Pabatso Sithole, from Kearsney College, led the team with 12 points, followed closely by Abake Moyo with 11 points, while Kwakuhle Sibiya and Daniel Prinsloo each contributed seven points, and Lubani Mseleku added six points for the visitors.
Sithole was one of the standout players for Kearsney on their home court when they secured the Kearsney Independent Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT) title at the end of September this year, scoring 26 points in the final against St John’s College.
On Saturday, in the sweltering heat on Glenwood’s outdoor courts, Kearsney started strongly, establishing an eight-point lead of 10-2 by the conclusion of the first quarter.
Kearsney maintained their defensive intensity in the second quarter, allowing Glenwood only three additional points by half-time, while consistently adding to their own total. By half-time, the game was all but decided with Kearsney leading 31-5.
The heat impacted the third and fourth quarters, which led to Kearsney’s intensity dropping. The contest became much tighter, with the Botha’s Hill bunch tacking on another 28 points, while Glenwood found their way by scoring 21 of their own.
It ended 59-26 in favour of the visitors.
Maritzburg College vs St Charles College
On a sweltering summer Saturday, Maritzburg College faced off against St Charles College in a showdown between Pietermaritzburg rivals with established traditions of excellence on the basketball court.
The Alan Paton Memorial Hall buzzed with enthusiasm and anticipation as the tip-off approached. However, both teams started sluggishly, with the extreme heat and the physical nature of the clash exacting a toll. At the end of the first quarter, the Red, Black, and White led 12-8.
A robust performance from College in the second quarter, however, increased their advantage to 11 points.
Throughout the remainder of the match, it was a back-and-forth tussle. College, though, had set themselves up for victory with their strong second quarter and it finished 58-45 in favour of the home team.
In other matches in KZN, Hilton College and Durban High School (DHS) delivered a thriller. In total, 157 points were scored, but only three separated the sides, with DHS edging it 80-77.
Westville Boys’ High, meanwhile, had the measure of Michaelhouse, winning by 18 points, 65-47.
Eastern Cape
In the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College concluded their schedule with a rout of their great rivals, Dale College. It was one-way traffic, with Queen’s triumphing 73-13.
In Makhanda, St Andrew’s College hosted Grey High, and it was the visitors who stunned the home team, pulling off a 43-38 win.
Gauteng
King Edward VII School (KES) followed up their recent success at St David’s Marist Inanda’s Inanda Hoops Classic Challenge by cruising to a 51-29 victory over Pretoria Boys High on Saturday.
KES has been in excellent form. They won all of their matches at the Inanda Hoops Classic Challenge, one of the country’s top basketball tournaments, and had three players selected to the All-Star Team.
They included Siya Ndlovu, who was named the event’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). He who cracked the nod alongside his teammates, Bradley Moyo and Tim Fanny.
On a busy weekend for St John’s College sports’ teams, their basketball side claimed a 39-32 win over St Stithians College.
St David’s, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Inanda Hoops Classic Challenge by Michael Mount Waldorf last weekend, returned to action with a 57-49 victory over Jeppe High School for Boys.
St Alban’s College completed their year’s programme in style, winning by 20 points against Parktown Boys’ High, 57-37.
Redhill School also picked up a win, beating Helpmekaar College 49-26.
RESULTS
Eastern Cape
Queen’s College 73-13 Dale College
Grey High School 43-38 St Andrew’s College
Gauteng
St John’s College 39-32 St Stithians College
St David’s 57-49 Jeppe
KES 51-29 Pretoria Boys High
St Alban’s College 57-37 Parktown Boys’ High
Redhill 49-26 Helpmekaar
KwaZulu-Natal
Westville 65-47 Michaelhouse
Northwood 89-49 Clifton College
DHS 80-77 Hilton College
Maritzburg College 58-45 St Charles College
Kearsney College 59-26 Glenwood
