Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Kingston College's Omari Green (left) charges to the hoop ahead of Ardenne's Andrew Khan (centre) and Alex Lubsy (right) in their ISSA/KFC Under-19 Southern Conference final at the National Stadium court yesterday. Green scored 15 points to lead KC to a 54-40 win. Khan had 12 points in a losing effort. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

KINGSTON COLLEGE (KC) recovered from 14-point, first-quarter deficit to stun Ardenne 54-40 in game one of the ISSA/KFC Under-19 schoolboy basketball Southern Conference finals at the National Stadium court yesterday.

However, there was a reversal of fortune in the Under-16 final as the North Street team was battered 50-33 by the same foes.

Flying out of the gates, Ardenne stormed to a 17-3 first-quarter lead in the U-19s as KC found it difficult to cope with a stifling Ardenne front-line. However, Ardenne's crippling defence came at a price as their big men got into foul trouble, including shot blocker Alex Lubsy who started the second quarter on the bench.

"We had too many calls against us. Their strategy was to foul out the big men and a number of harsh calls from the referees helped in that department," said Ardenne coach Basil Waite.

"If you are going to call a tough game, then fouls should be on both sides not one team forced to make early substitutions," Waite said.

KC were quick to take advantage of the fact that Ardenne's starters were out of the game and, led by Omari Green who finished the game with 15 points, 16 rebounds and five assists, they close the margin to seven going into half-time with the score at 23-16.

Another surge at the start of the third quarter saw them cut even further into the lead of a stagnant Ardenne, who were forced to attempt long-range efforts and had difficulty taking care of the ball.

With five minutes left in the third quarterr, stanza they levelled the game at 25-25 and then, with the momentum on their side, closed the quarter with a 38-27 lead.

Too many points

A crestfallen Ardenne could do little to stem the tide and, despite a run with three minutes remaining, found themselves trailing by too many points to keep things interesting.

"We had a very slow start and that is unusual. It may have been a bit of complacency but when we settled we played our game," said KC coach Andrew Jackson.

"Winning game one was very important for us here today, but now we have to prepare for the next game," Jackson said.

Christopher Thomas was KC's second highest scorer with 14 points, while Andrew Khan top scored for Ardenne with 12.

In Under-16 action, point guard Dimitri Gauge led the way for Ardenne with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Andrew Jarr had 18 points for KC.