St Benedict’s and St Peter’s lift St Stithians Basketball Tournament titles
Rain and lightning in Johannesburg impacted the St Stithians u16 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, leading to the organisers adjusting the fixtures. St Benedict’s College and St Peter’s College took those changes in their stride and won the boys’ and girls’ titles respectively.
With games delayed, most matches were rescheduled to Saturday evening, and when the adverse weather conditions continued into Sunday the final day of the tournament was moved from outdoors at St Stithians College to indoors at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre.
St Benedict’s College emerged victorious in the boys’ championship after delivering an outstanding performance in the final against St John’s College. Bennies dominated and powered their way to a decisive 51-32 victory.
They were also convincing winners of their semi-final on Sunday, handing the St Stithians College u16A team a 45-30 loss.
St John’s and St Stithians were considered among the tournament favorites based on their earlier performances. St John’s, though, was pushed to the limit by Michaelhouse in the semi-finals, scraping a hard-fought 45-43 victory.
In the bronze playoff for third place, the hosts, St Stithians College, concluded the tournament on a positive note, securing a medal by narrowly defeating Michaelhouse 28-26.
In the girls’ competition, St Peter’s College defeated the International School of South Africa (ISSA) 31-23 to capture the title after a highly competitive three days of action.
In a challenging semi-final match, St Peter’s dealt with the hosts, St Stithians, triumphing 35-25. ISSA reached the final after defeating the Saheti School A Team 46-35.
The St Stithians Girls’ College team emulated the Saints’ boys’ team by finishing third, beating the Saheti School A Team 22-18 in the bronze medal playoff.
Final Standings, All-Star Players and MVPs
Boys
Gold Medal: St Benedict’s College
Silver Medal: St John’s College
Bronze Medal: St Stithians College
Girls
Gold Medal: St Peter’s College
Silver Medal: ISSA
Bronze Medal: St Stithians College
Boys’ All-Stars
Josh Ogboro (St Stithians College no.238)
Max Vries (Michaelhouse no. 223)
Elu Araia (St Benedict’s College no. 15)
Tiri Pasipanodya (St John’s College no. 13)
Boys: Redirile Magoro (St Benedict’s College no. 47)
Girls’ All Stars
Ntsakisi Makhuba (Saheti School A Team no. 9)
Jenna Garbini (St Stithians College no. 59)
Kaiyushka Kisten (St Peter’s College no. 4)
Haizel Tukei (ISSA no.27)
Girls: Phenyo Mabotja (St Peter’s College no. 24)
MVP Players
Boys: Redirile Magoro (St Benedict’s College no. 47)
Girls: Phenyo Mabotja (St Peter’s College no. 24)
Saturday Results
Boys
Quarterfinals
Michaelhouse 57-45 Michael Mount
St Benedict’s College 52-45 Maritzburg College
St John’s College 36-33 St David’s Marist Inanda
St Stithians College 46-14 Hilton College
Girls
Quarterfinals
St Peter’s College 23-8 St Dunstan’s College
St Stithians College 25-2 DSG (Makhanda)
Saheti School A Team 19-18 Rand Tutorial College
ISSA 26-15 St Mary’s Waverley
Sunday Results
Boys’ results
Semi-finals
St John’s College 45-43 Michaelhouse
St Benedict’s College 45-30 St Stithians College
Boys’ Bronze Playoff
St Stithians College 28-26 Michaelhouse
Boys’ Final
St Benedict’s College 51-32 St John’s College
Girls’ results
Semi-finals
St Peter’s College 35-25 St Stithians College
ISSA 46-35 ISSA
Girls’ Bronze Playoff
St Stithians College 22-18 Saheti School A Team
Girls’ Final
St Peter’s College 31-23 ISSA
