ST LEONARD’S are looking to clear more space for another piece of basketball hardware.
Combo guard Antone Lawrence scored 17 points and the Richmond Gap lads led by as many as 18 in the first half to stun Lester Vaughan 59-45 in Thursday’s semi-finals of the Co-operators General Insurance Schools Under-16 Tournament at the Wildey Gym.
The win gives St Leonard’s a chance to become one of only a handful of schools to hold both the Under-19 and junior basketball titles in the same academic year when they face Foundation in Tuesday’s final.
It was a huge turnaround from last month’s 30-point drubbing from Lester Vaughan, who only dropped one game for the entire regular season. But the signs of change were evident from as early as the first quarter when Lawrence scored seven quick points to open an initial 13-7 lead.
And that advantage soon ballooned to a 31-13 first-half rout when Tristan Whittaker got in on the act.
However, Brandon Hope erupted for 12 third-quarter points, pulling Lester Vaughan within single digits late in that period before the Cane Garden side threatened again early in the fourth.
The momentum quickly swung in St Leonard’s favour as Lawrence, Whittaker and Rashon Best converted three turnovers into open court layups as part of a decisive 12-6 run.
Best and Whittaker finished with 14 and 11 points respectively as St Leonard’s survived Hope’s game-high 25 points.
In the other semi-final, Akeem Marshall scored 43 points and Ellerslie were held to just three second-half points as Foundation moved one win away from perfection after their 63-21 blowout victory.
The contest was actually a close affair after the first two quarters, with the unbeaten Church Hill side managing a mere 27-18 lead at the break. (JM)