Mercantile gets close call

BASKETBALL: The defending national champions Mercantile Services Basketball Associated had a close call before winning 54-47 win over the youthful Kurunegala District Basketball Association in their Senior Basketball National Championships organised by the Sri Lanka Basketball Association and sponsored by the People's Bank and played at Trinity College Courts in Kandy. At the lemons Mercantile led 30-23.

The chief contributors for Mercantile were Roshan Randima (17), M. K. Shihan (08), Diluk Hirantha (08). For Kurunegala Gavi Cooray got 19 points, Prabudhe Jayaratne 17 and Dhammika Perera 07 made their contributions.

The results of other matches played Gampaha District Basketball Association beat Sri Lanka Schools 54-50 after a close fight.

Sri Lanka Air Force scored a 72-52 win over Kalutara District Basketball Association. At half time airmen led 46-14. The Kalutara spikers fought back in the second half to stop the Airmen from running up a bigger score. For Kalutara Dihan Manjula collected 42 points which is so far the highest individual total of points in the championship.

Puttalam District Basketball Association pulled off a 84-74 win over Combined Universities after leading 35-29 at half time. In the womans championships played at the indoor courts, Peradeniya, the defending champions Mercantile Service beat Colombo District BA 53-35 after leading 31-19 in the first half.

In their second match Mercantile Services annihilated the Sri Lanka Schools 73-25. At half time Mercantile led 42-15.

In another match Colombo District BA staved off a big challenge by Combined Universities in scoring a thrilling 49-43 win. At half it was the University lasses who led 25-20.