After a 19-game season, the top teams HJ Robinson High School and Clement Howell High competed in the Interscholastic Basketball Tournament 2021 playoffs, with HJ Robinson High School securing the Champion title on December 11, 2021.
The playoffs experienced a tremendous audience turnout, with high paced sportsmanship from the players.
Coached by Omardi Morris and Kristien Simons, HJ Robinson won the playoff championship game 63-62 to the Clement Howell High School. Coach Morris shared “We were notified late about the tournament so we were really out of shape in the beginning and had to pick up our conditioning. But we actually embraced that adversity and that’s something we preached entirely today and have been preaching throughout our whole season. We like the adversity, we like the challenge it makes us better. We’re Goliath now, we’re the dogs on top.”
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) moniker was awarded to Davaurii Daniel (22 points, 2 steals, 3 rebounds) from the HJ Robinson High School. Daniel in the height of excitement shared “It’s just a blessing. I got a little bit of tears of joy. After I heard the final buzzer I was so happy. The one [shot] I hit on the wing of it when I got the ball the defender was in my face and I shot it and it went in. This is the moment I wanted, this is the moment we came here for so in my head I said we have to win this championship and this is a very improved moment for me”.
Clement Howell’s coach Kevin Harvey (along with Coach Kenneth Grant) shared appreciation for his team’s performance who dominated the first three quarters. Commending his rival coach, Smith said, “I give hats off to Coach Omardi, he did a heck off of a job. That’s where the game is at it’s on the floor and we leave it there. It’s anybody’s game for who gets mentally ready and it’s a challenge getting ready for four games.”
Marjorie Basden High managed to secure the third-place position against the Maranatha High School in another close call winning 64-62. Both teams fought hard with a number of committed players, shaping up for a good future season of upcoming basketball tournaments.
Among the schools who took part in the championships were the Raymond Gardiner High School, Maranatha Academy, Marjorie Basden High School, British West Indies Collegiate, Louise Garland-Thomas High School, HJ Robinson High School and Clement Howell High School.