Ardenne book their spot in Southern Conference basketball finals against STGC

Ardenne High School played a consistent game of basketball to overcome Jamaica College (JC) in the second semifinal of the ISSA/KFC Southern Conference Under -16 Basketball competition on Friday January 17. The win helped them set a date in the final with St. Georges College who defeated Calabar the day before.

Ardenne High School played a consistent game of basketball to overcome Jamaica College (JC) in the second semifinal of the ISSA/KFC Southern Conference Under -16 Basketball competition on Friday January 17. The win helped them set a date in the final with St. Georges College who defeated Calabar the day before.

Jamaica College got off to a storming start and was all over their opponents in the first quarter, hitting them on the fast break to score 15 points to their opponents 8 at the end of the first stanza.

Ardenne found their rhythm in the second quarter, winning it 11-7 and cut the gap to just three as JC led 22-19 at half time.

JC came out cold in the third quarter and Ardenne took full advantage of it, tripling the opponents total output for the quarter, scoring 12 points to JC’s 4. That meant that Ardenne were leading for the first time in the game as the scoreboard read, Ardenne 31-26 JC.

The venue was overcast at the start of the fourth quarter as the rain closed in on the outdoor facility. The fourth quarter was a much more competitive one than the previous two when JC had gone cold in their offense.

JC fought back in the fourth pushing their opponents to the limit and with the only 1:41 left on the clock and the scoreboard reading Ardenne 29-26 JC the game had to be suspended due to rain.

The delay was not a long one and Ardenne held their composure and their nerve to end the game 50-39 for what was a deserved win.

Ardenne was led by Shemar Williams who had 18 points and 3 steals and D’Andre Forbes who had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals. For JC, Malik Anderson had 12 points, 14 rebounds and 3 steals, while Akeme Buckley had 12 points which included 2 three-pointers, 5 rebounds and 6 steals.

The best of three finals begins Monday January 20th at the National Stadium.