Maritzburg College reclaims the Jenny Orchard Basketball Tournament title
The Jenny Orchard Basketball Tournament title has returned home. Maritzburg College succeeded Westville Boys’ High as the champion of the prestigious tournament on Sunday, with a hard-fought 64-55 victory over a tough ESCA outfit in the final.
Westville’s title defence ended in the semi-finals at the hands of ESCA, who recorded a solid 64-42 win, while College hit on all cylinders in a convincing win over a Kearsney College team that had shone in their previous contests. College, though, was another level up that Kearsney was unable to match, and the Red, Black, and White triumphed 74-45.
With their win in the title game, Maritzburg College won the title for a second time, having previously claimed it in 2024. Michaelhouse had the honour of winning the inaugural Jenny Orchard Basketball Tournament in 2023.
ESCA ran rampant on their way to a place in the title game, but they met their match against Maritzburg College, who revelled in the familiar confines of the Alan Paton Memorial Hall. ESCA controlled the contest in the first half, but the home crowd raised the roof with their very vocal support in the second stanza, and the College team responded to grab control of the match.
The bronze playoff game produced a fittingly tight clash between neighbours and rivals, Westville Boys’ High and Kearsney College, with the Griffins pulling off a three-point win, 71-68.
In the B Division, Kingswood College faced Queen’s College in an all-Eastern Cape final. Both teams entered the title decider with unblemished records.
In a high-intensity contest, Kingswood owned a slight edge, and they came away with a battling 50-45 victory.
In the bronze playoff, St Nicholas Diocesan School B defeated Michaelhouse B 73-54.
FULL RESULTS
Sunday, 22 February
Division A Final
Maritzburg College 64-55 ESCA
Position 3-4/ Bronze
Westville Boys’ High 71-68 Kearsney College
Position 5-6
DHS 65-45 SACS
Position 7-8
Soweto Basketball Academy 52-43 St John’s College (Harare)
Position 9-10
Pinelands High 48-40 Wynberg Boys’ High
Position 11-12
Westerford High 65-51 Clifton College
Division B Final
Kingswood College 50-45 Queen’s College
Position 3-4/ Bronze
St Nicholas Diocesan School B 73-54 Michaelhouse B
Position 5-6
Meridian Karino School 64-60 St Andrew’s College B
Position 7-8
Marist Brothers Linmeyer 56-52 Bishops Diocesan College
Position 9-10
Maritzburg College C 60-54 Enjabulweni Independent School
Position 11-12
Alexandra High School 69-43 Treverton College
Division A Final Rankings
1. Maritzburg College
2. ESCA
3. Westville Boys’ High
4. Kearsney College
5. Durban High School
6. South African College High School
7. Soweto Basketball Academy
8. St John’s College (Harare)
9. Pinelands High
10. Wynberg Boys’ High
11. Westerford High
12. Clifton College
13. St Nicholas Diocesan
14. Rondebosch Boys’ High
15. Glenwood
16. Northwood B
Division B Final Rankings
1. Kingswood College
2. Queen’s College
3. St Nicholas Diocesan
4. Michaelhouse B
5. Meridian Karino School
6. St Andrew’s College B
7. Marist Brothers Linmeyer
8. Bishops
9. Maritzburg College C
10. Enjabulweni Independent School
11. Alexandra High School
12. Treverton College
13. Riverwood College
14. Etham College
15. Maritzburg Cubs
16. Thomas More College
