Combermere slams QC in U-19 semi-final

The firepower of Combermere was just too much to handle as they ran over Queen’s College by 22 points to move into the finals of the National Sports Council’s Schools’ U-19 Knockout competition to face Harrison College.

The 89-67 victory was a convincing one for Combermere with their star players coming up big on the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex court on Thursday afternoon. Five players made it into double figures for Combermere, led by Justin Bramao with a game-high 23 points. Big man Saadiq Browne controlled the paint, grabbing over 8 offensive rebounds in the middle and putting 17 points on the board. Fellow forward Primus Walrond added 15, while Carl Thorpe and Brandon Ruck finished with 13 each.

Ruck started the game hot for Combermere, opening the scoring with a baseline 3 to get the ball rolling in the semi-final. It got the Waterford boys off to a good start, taking a swift 9-2 run, including two dunks by Bramao, before QC coach Ryan Holford called a time-out to talk it over with his guys. The talk worked and the refocused QC players made a 0-6 run to bring themselves back into contention. That run gave them a confidence that seemed lost at the start. As if to remind them they were playing a top calibre squad, Ruck sank another baseline 3 to push up Combermere’s advantage.

It was Saadiq Browne, however, that came up big for the winners when they needed it most. Browne scored the last 6 points of the first quarter, going toe-to-toe and point for point with opposite forward Makhaya Moore of QC. Moore got his at the free throw line, but Browne worked the boards for his baskets and lifted his team to a 24-18 first quarter lead.

QC came into the second quarter with the goal of taking the lead and almost accomplished it when they tied the score at 25 midway through the second. QC point-guard Khaleel Wilkinson was the one that lifted QC spirits, showing Combermere that they were not the only talent on the floor. His step-back jump over was smooth as silk and seemed to motivate Moore to attack the basket and draw fouls.

The “gate-door” then blew wide open for Combermere in the second half of the quarter. The scoreline went from 25-25 to 39-27, a 14-2 run by Combermere fuelled by good defence and transition lay-ups.

QC turned the ball over too many times during that period, when Wilkinson – who along with Moore was battling symptoms of the flu – was off the floor getting a rest. It placed QC far behind, down 49-33 at the half.

Speaking of Moore’s illness, the young player sat for as much as four minutes during each quarter of the second half, more than he had for the whole season combined. Losing their best player, who averages over 40 points per game, at the semi final stage was bad timing for QC but perfect timing for Combermere. The boys in blue and yellow never looked back and motored along to the finish.

Moore still managed 22 points in the game with Wilkinson adding 17 and Nikhil Uttamchandani playing well for his 14 points in the game.

The final is tentatively slated for next Thursday, November 7th, where Combermere will look to lift their second crown in as many years.

(AS)