Three-on-three queens

HARRISON COLLEGE DEFEAT ST MICHAEL TO WIN BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

By Morissa Lindsay

Harrison College were crowned the inaugural 2022 National Sports Council Schools’ 3×3 Basketball queens as they defeated the St. Michael School 8-0 in the championship match played today at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

After two years of no school basketball, the fast paced and exciting 3×3 tournament attracted several secondary schools from across the island with the girls’ final concluded this afternoon. Harrison College led by national player and point guard Rebecca Simpson were truly deserving of the title.

Simpson top-scored with five points during the seven-minute championship final while her fellow teammates Alissa Kinch (two points) and Rheanna Griffin (one point) also played well.

A total of nine girl teams featured on the court today and Harrison College demonstrated great skills during this two-day competition which commenced today and will conclude tomorrow at the Gymnasium.

Speaking after the match, Simpson said she was confident that they would defeat the St. Michael School team which comprised of Destiny Yarde, Danielle Holder, Alala Moore and Quinielle Weekes who all must be commended for their effort in reaching the final.

 

“It is not a surprise for us because at the beginning of the match I told them they are not scoring any points and that is exactly what happened. That was the game plan from the beginning and we executed that perfectly,” Simpson explained.

The girls from Crumpton Street worked the ball around the court consistently in search of the opening to take shots past the St. Michael’s defence and Simpson was particularly happy with that aspect of the game.

“SMS is a physical team and for us we just kept up our intensity because before the game we did some sprints and we came in and out-ran them, so we are feeling good about that,” Simpson stated.

In terms of the return of secondary schools basketball, Simpson noted that it felt great and that she could wait for more competitions. “It feels great for us especially because it has been a very long time since we played and we came out and did our best and as usual HC dominated.”

Even though Harrison College in their traditional burgundy games uniform did not get a chance to practise as much as they would have liked to, the chemistry among Simpson, Kinch and Griffin who are all 18 years old spoke for itself as they gelled well on the court.

Simpson accounted for the first four points of the match and Harrison College were ahead by three points in the first two minutes of the exchange. The trio did not look back as they spread possession and strategically passed to Simpson for the layup whenever the opportunity presented itself.

On their way to the final Harrison College trounced Lodge School 6-0 to advance while the St. Michael School edged St. George Secondary 3-0 during the semifinal matchup.

The 3×3 competition concludes tomorrow with a number of boys’ preliminary games as well as the final. morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb