Friday, March 29, 2024

SPJC places fourth in ATLIB National Basketball Competition

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The San Pedro Junior College (SPJC) basketball team travelled to San Ignacio to represent the Northern Region in 2012’s Association of Tertiary Level Institution of Belize (ATLIB) basketball Nationals. The team, along with teachers and fans travelled on Friday, February 17th for games at the Falcon Field and on Saturday, February 18th at the end of the tournament, the boys came in fourth.

There were eight teams that made it to the Nationals; four in the female category and four in the male category. Representing the northern region in the female category were St. Johns Junior College Junior College (SJCJC) and Wesley Junior College (WJC); while competing in the male category were San Pedro Junior College and Wesley Junior College. Representing the southern region in the female division were University of Belize (UB) and Ecumenical Junior College while competing in the male division were Galen University (GU) and University of Belize.

SPJC boys went up against UB boys in the first game, which ended in a score of 58-44. Top scorers in game one were: UB – Farron Louriano with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks; Winston Pratt with 13 points, and Travis Lennon with 8 points. For SPJC- Williams Withman with the top scorers with 13 points, 7 rebounds; Franklin Arana with 13 points and Alfred Young with 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Game two saw WJC marginally winning GU in a score of 40-39. Top scorers for WJC: Paul Swasey with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 5 assists and Jaleel Arnold with 8 points. Gale’s top scorers were Jamaal Harris with 12 points and 9 rebounds; Jarrell Velasquez with 9 points and 9 rebounds and Shelton Defour with 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Game three saw Galen’s boys sparing off against SPJC for third and fourth place. At the end, Galen was victorious in a score of 40 – 31. Luis Rubio of SPJC managed to garner 9 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks and William Withman scored 9 points.

In the championship game, UB went up against WJC and won in what would almost be considered a landslide victory in a score of 66-38. Top scorers in the championship games were as follows: UB’s Farron Louriano came at the top with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block; Winston Pratt garnered 11 points and 6 rebounds; Travis Lennon scored 10 points and Alfred Bainton, 9 points. For WJC; Oliver Solis placed 14 points; Paul Swasey got 8 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block while Jaleel Arnold got 8 points.

In the Male Division, in first place was UB, WJC came in second, Galen took third and SPJC took fourth place. In the Female division UB took first, EJC took second, WJC took third and SJCJC took fourth.

As to how San Pedro performed in the competition, Mr. Froylan Gilharry, Sports Coordinator for the SPJC stated, “This was the first time SPJC brings out a basketball team and yet with only eight players we made it to the Nationals and showed the country that we are the fourth best basketball team in the country of Belize at the junior college level. Congratulations to our team. San Pedro is proud of you.”

The SPJC would like to take this opportunity to thank the following businesses who sponsored and assisted with jerseys, travelling, food and accommodations at Cayo: The Phoenix Resort, Castillo’s Hardware, War Paint, Lino’s Meat, San Pedro Jet Express, San Pedro Belize Express, Pepperoni’s Pizza, Hidden Treasures, Mar de Colores – and all those other businesses and people who sponsored the players. Special thanks also goes to Coach Mr. Paul Kelly for all those extra hours he had to put in during practice after 9:30 pm, and Mr. Ellis, Dean of SPJC for supporting and believing in the team. The San Pedro Sun joins in congratulating the SPJC boys on a job well done.

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