adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
NKULUMANE High School won the Bulawayo Under-20 boys’ Top Schools Basketball tournament after beating Christian Brothers College (CBC) 28-23 in the final played at Khanyisile Sports Centre on Sunday.
Eleven schools – Milton, Gifford, CBC, Petra, Founders, Hamilton, Nkulumane, Ihlathi, St Columba’s, Njube and Northlea – participated in the competition where a provincial select side was chosen to represent Bulawayo at the National Youth Games set for Chinhoyi in August.
Masotsha, Magwegwe, Sizane, Msiteli and Mandwandwe did not turn-up for the finals.
On their way to winning the tournament, Nkulumane topped Group C, beating Njube 47-4 and Petra 59-4.
The champions met Group A runners-up Founders in the quarter-finals and won 50-20.
Nkulumane then beat Milton 40-14 in the semi-finals to set a final date with CBC.
In the group stages, CBC beat St Columba’s 39-17 in their opening match and narrowly lost 22-23 to Milton.
CBC then went on to beat Gifford 23-16 in the quarter-finals and Northlea 21-19 in the semi-finals.
Bulawayo Basketball Association president for youth development Charmaine Chirinda said the provincial select will be announced during the course of the week.
“It was a good tournament and our boys played really well. There’s abundant talent in schools and what’s critical is to nurture these youngsters and ensure they’re not lost to the sport after high school. Our selectors identified some players for the provisional squad and they should be starting camp next week here at Khanyisile Sports Centre,” said Chirinda.
Some of the players expected to be part of the provincial squad are Mthokozisi Sibanda of Nkulumane, who was the tournament’s top scorer with 69 points, and Keith Mumba of Northlea, who was tied on 65 points with Davison Chivero of CBC.
Results
Group A: Founders 37-39 Northlea, Ihlathi 19-30 Northlea, Founders 30-17 Ihlathi
Group B: CBC 39-17 St Columba’s, CBC 22-23 Milton, St Columba’s 7-48 Milton
Group C: Petra 48-7 Njube, Nkulumane 47-4 Njube, Nkulumane 59-4 Petra
Group D: Gifford 36-23 Hamilton, (two teams did not turn up)
Quarter-finals: Northlea 30-24 Petra, Gifford 16-23 CBC, Nkulumane 50-20 Founders, Milton 18-15 Hamilton
Semi-finals: CBC 21-19 Northlea, Nkulumane 40-12 Milton
Third place play-off: Milton 16-23 Northlea
Final: CBC 23-28 Nkulumane
Online Reporter