C.I.S. Kandy beat Gateway 45-44

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen

Colombo International School (Kandy Branch) beat Kandy Gateway College by the narrowest margin of victory 45-44 to clinch the boys under 17 Central Zone.

Basketball Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association. The finals played at St. Anthony's Girls College Courts Kandy.

Al half-time, it was the losers Gateway College who led 23-22.

The finals turned out to be a close battle with both schools putting up a fine display to keep the spectators the edge of their seats as the outcome of the match was anybody's guess CIS owe their victory to last year's captain Kiran Karaliyadde who was indisposed but came out from her sick lied to spearhead his sides victory by scoring 18 points. Kandy Migaro also did will to score 10 points.

For Gateway college Madhushan Raja player a key role in scoring 16 points with Indrajith Bandara also played will.

The individual awards were was by Kiran Karaliyadde (most Valuable player) CIS Madushan Raja (Best offensive player) Gateway Kanidu Migara (Best Defensive player) CIS.

The champion CIS team was coached of D.S. Pingamage and Gateway College by Anuradha Wijesinghe. K.P.S. Chandrasiri Zonal Secretary of the Sri Lanka Basketball Association handled the arrangement of the tournament.

In the semi-final CIS beat Maliyadeva College 48-31 after leading 23-16 at the freather.

In the second semi finals Gateway College beat A1 Azar Central College 39-25. At half time the scores were 24-9.