A couple of big-time individual performances caught the eye as basketball action heated up in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape on Saturday.
Lubanzi Mseleku turned in an exceptional performance at the Skweyiya SportZone, where the Kearsney College skipper contributed 23 points to his team’s 58-54 victory over Hilton College, including seven points in the last two minutes to break open a 51-51 tie.
Luphawu Socika added a much-needed 10 points in a game that Kearsney trailed 24-29 at halftime, before heading into the final quarter with a tight 41-40 lead.
In Durban, Northwood defeated St Charles College in an entertaining clash dominated by Awande Chiliza.
At times, conditions are challenging on the Knights‘ outdoor home court, but nothing that the weather and Saints threw in his path had much effect, with Chiliza scoring a stunning 41 of Northwood’s points in their 63-55 victory.
Chiliza made the most of Sims Vacu‘s sharp passing. Vacu contributed 13 assists and also slammed two amazing dunks in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Glenwood‘s basketball programme has demonstrated steady growth over the past three years, and they put that improvement on show on Saturday, outplaying Clifton College 60-35 at the Riverside Sports Club.
Westville Boys’ High hosted Maritzburg College and made their home-court advantage count, handing high-flying College a 55-53 loss in an intensely competitive clash.
Only two points separated Michaelhouse and Durban High School (DHS), too, with the result again favouring the home side, and House scoring a hard-fought 41-39 victory.
In Gauteng, King Edward VII School (KES) claimed a confident 60-26 victory over Jeppe High School for Boys.
The commanding performance served as a warning to the Reds‘ opposition at the Inanda Hoops Challenge Classic at St David’s Marist Inanda later this week, where KES will defend the title they won in 2025.
St Stithians College scored a comfortable 54-33 win over Pretoria Boys High, while St David’s picked up a battling 34-27 victory over St John’s College.
In the Eastern Cape, St Andrew’s College comfortably handled the challenge of Queen’s College, winning 55-36.
RESULTS
KwaZulu-Natal
Westville 55-53 Maritzburg College
Northwood 63-55 St Charles College
Glenwood 60-35 Clifton College
Kearsney College 58-54 Hilton College
Michaelhouse 41-39 Durban High School
Gauteng
KES 60-26 Jeppe
St Stithians College 54-33 Pretoria Boys High
St David’s 34-27 St John’s College
Eastern Cape
St Andrew’s College 55-36 Queen’s College
