Revitalised Northwood chases third successive St John’s title
The St John’s College Basketball Tournament concludes on Sunday, with Northwood, who began their title defence with back-to-back defeats, in the final again and aiming to win the tournament for a third successive year.
Saturday’s playoffs rewrote the script of the previous two days, with St Stithians College, St Charles College, and King Edward VII (KES), who were all unbeaten, falling in the playoffs. Instead, Northwood advanced to a Sunday showdown against Michael Mount Waldorf School for the title.
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On Thursday, when the Knights suffered defeats against St Stithians College and The King’s School Linbro Park, questions were raised about their ability to defend the title.
Northwood, stung and with their pride hurt, met the challenge head-on and lifted their game, knowing they couldn’t afford any more slip-ups.
They finished third in their group, which barely qualified them for the play-in games. However, once afforded a chance to regain their momentum, they showed their championship pedigree.
They took on a tenacious Pretoria Boys High School (PHBS) team for a place in the quarterfinals and were stretched, but the Knights came through with a narrow 55-52 victory
In the quarter-finals, they took on St Stithians, who had beaten them 48-35 in a Pool A clash. This time, Northwood was ready. Playing with intensity and at a high pace, they pulled away to a 57-45 win.
Their reward was a repeat of the 2025 final – a clash with the hosts, St John’s College. Spurred on by a partisan home crowd, St John’s gave it their all, but the Knights had found their mojo, and they powered their way to a 60-48 victory and a place in the title decider.
St John’s had beaten St Benedict’s College 57-40 in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, St Charles College‘s clean record was spoiled by Michael Mount in their quarterfinal clash. In a tight contest dominated by the defences, Michael Mount triumphed 30-24.
Then, in the semi-finals, Michael Mount ended another clean run, sneaking by KES 47-45. KES had cruised to a 49-25 victory over The King’s School Linbro Park in the quarters.
In the u19 Category B playoffs, Lomagundi College defeated the YUT Basketball Academy (Mauritius) 62-34, Crawford Lonehill ran out 53-46 winners against Redhill, and Saheti defeated Alma Mater International School 46-26.
In the semifinals, Maritzburg College B outplayed St John’s College B 51-30, and St Peter’s College defeated Sacred Heart College 34-21 to book their places in the final.
RESULTS
Saturday, 21 February
u19 Category A
Quarterfinals
Northwood 57-45 St Stithians College
St John’s College 57-40 St Benedict’s College
KES 49-25 King’s Linbro
St Charles College vs Michael Mount
Semifinals
Northwood 60-48 St John’s College
Michael Mount 47-45 KES
Classification Games
Position 13-16
St George’s College 68-58 Jeppe
Position 17-20
Crawford College (Sandton) 42-31 Curro Helderwyk
St Andrew’s College 46-Parktown Boys’ High
Quarterfinal Losers
St Benedict’s College 47-46 St Stithians College
King’s Linbro 59-55 St Charles College
u19 Category B
Playoffs
Lomagundi 62-34 YUT Basketball Academy
Crawford Lonehill 53-46 Redhill
Saheti 46-Alma Mater
Semifinals
Maritzburg College B 51-30 St John’s College B
St Peter’s College 34-21 Sacred Heart College
FIXTURES
Sunday, 22 February
u19 A Classification Games
Position 5-6
08:00 – SJC – Court 7: St Benedict’s College vs King’s Linbro
Position 7-8
08:00 – SJC – Court 8: St Stithians College vs St Charles College
Position 9-12
08:00 – SJC – Court 3: St David’s vs St Alban’s College
08:00 – SJC – Court 5: PHBS vs Hilton College
Position 13-16
08:00 – SJC – Court 6: Falcon College vs Michaelhouse
Position 17-18
08:00 – SJC – Court 9: Crawford College vs St Andrew’s College
Position 19-20
08:00 – SJC – Court 10: Curro Helderwyk vs Parktown Boys’ High
u19 Category A Bronze
09:20 – SJC – Court 1: St John’s College vs KES
u19 Category A Final
13:30 – SJC – Court 1: Northwood vs Michael Mount
u19 Category B Bronze
09:20 – SJC – Court 2: St John’s College B vs Sacred Heart College
u19 Category B Final
12:00 – SJC – Court 3: Maritzburg College B vs St Peter’s College
