ST ALBANS, ST JOHN’S AND MICHAEL MOUNT CROWNED CHAMPIONS ON FINAL’S DAY

St Alban’s College is the U/19 champion of the 2021 St John’s College Basketball Tournament, proudly sponsored by Standard Bank and brought to you by Supersport Schools in association with Puma and Shesha Hoops Lounge. St John’s College claimed the U/15 crown with Michael Mount Waldorf School winning the U13 category. 

The final day of the tournament comprised the knockout rounds of the competition, with the U/15 and U/19 ages groups immediately starting their day with their semi final fixtures. 

The 3rd and 4th place playoffs were played with Soweto Academy winning bronze in both the U/13 and U/19 age groups, whilst the Mangaung Knights secured bronze in the U15 age group with their close 29-26 win over the Soweto Academy. The U/13s continued with the last of their pool games which saw Michael Mount Waldorf School and St John’s Prep set up their date in the final. 

The semi finals began with the U/15 age group. St John’s College managed an emphatic 40-29 win over Soweto Academy in the first semifinal as St Stithians secured a late victory of 24-22 over the Mangaung Knights. This was an exciting match up that went right down to the wire with Saints claiming their place in the final during overtime. The final was then set with a meet up of traditional rivals St John’s and St Stithians. 

In the U/19 section, the matchup of the semifinals was an exciting game between St Charles and St Alban’s that was thrilling right to the last second. In the end, it was a single point that separated the two sides, with St Alban’s winning 20-19. The second semifinal was also great to watch with St John’s taking control to secure the win against Soweto Academy with a score of 41-33 to set up a final meeting with St Alban’s. 

The finals began with the U/15s, which saw St John’s reigning supreme with a 42-39 win over St Stithians. The U/13 final followed, with the well-disciplined Michael Mount Waldorf School emerging as the victors over St John’s Preparatory with a final 38-20 score. 

The U19 final saw the players welcomed onto the courts to the smooth sounds of the Parktown Boys’ High School Brass Band. They entertained throughout the game, providing an atmosphere for the players under the non-spectator circumstances. 

The game tipped off between St John’s and St Albans with the hosts dominating the opening exchanges on the scoreboard. St Alban’s took their time to really get going, but when they eventually did, St John’s found it difficult to cope. St Alban’s consciously remained in the game, even through the difficult periods, eventually claiming the 2021 tournament title. St Alban’s were victorious over St John’s with a final score of 38-23. 

It was an incredible fixture and St Albans proved deserving winners having shown their intent from the beginning and going about their business with quiet efficiency. 

The St John’s College Basketball Tournament was a successful one despite the stringent COVID-19 restrictions. 

Credit must go out to St John’s College’s Master in charge of Basketball, Mrs Ngoza Phiri-Mazarura, who played a big part in the organisation and success of the basketball tournament. It is also with sadness that the St John’s College community will be bidding farewell to Ngoza at the end of the year, meaning this was her last basketball tournament being a part of the St John’s College community. 

A big thank you to our partners Standard Bank, Supersport Schools along with Puma and Shesha Hoops Lounge who helped make this possible. 

MVP and All Star teams list:

U13 Category

Most Valued Player: Luca Amerseder, Michael Mount Waldorf School

All-Stars: Ama Ntsubane, St John’s Preparatory; Shalako Mda, Michael Mount Waldorf School; Siyabonga Mashaba, Phoenix Basketball Club; and Sizwe Ngwenya, Soweto Academy.

U15 Category

Most Valued Player: Nathan Tswatswa, St John’s College

All-Stars: Nathi Maseko, St John’s College; Galaletsang Masite, Mangaung Knights; Ayanda Sekale, Soweto Academy; and Sima Bobo, St Stithians College.

U19 Category

Most Valued Player: Thabo Masilela, St Alban’s College

All-Stars: Francois Van Rensburg, St Alban’s College; Takudzwanashe Sithole, St John’s College; James Laynes, St Charles College; and Nkosinathi Masina, Soweto Academy.