Sport - Basketball

Thrissur women enters final

THALASSERY: Thrissur women entered the final of the Sea Star 52nd senior State basketball championship, winning a thriller of a semifinal against Kollam 82-81 at the Municipal Stadium here on Saturday. Later in the night, Thiruvananthapuram reached the men’s final, outclassing Thrissur 84-51.

The women’s semifinal was indeed the closest encounter of the tournament. Thrissur wasn’t expected to be stretched by a depleted Kollam, which was playing with a near empty bench, as five of its players, including three key ones, had left to play in the National schools meet in Rajasthan.

Kollam took an early lead through a spate of baskets from the promising P. Smija, who came up with an inspired performance. Kollam was leading 48-36 after the first two quarters and Thrissur could close in the gap only in the last two quarters. The last few moments produced really exciting stuff, as the lead changed hands constantly.

Agnes Davis proved Thrissur’s star when she found the basket right at the death with her team trailing 80-81. For the winner, Ligi Peter, K.R. Neethu and Greesha Varghese were amongst the points yet again. But Smija scored more than any of them — 27 points.

Later, Thiruvananthapuram men had little difficulty against Thrissur.

The results: Men: Semifinals: Thiruvananthapuram 84 (Bobit Mathew 22, Vijobi Vakkachan 20, R. Manoj 20) bt Thrissur 51 (Eudrick Pereira 14).

Quarterfinals: Pathanamthitta 76 (V.G. Ajith 26, A.J. Jazeer 21, K.R. Nikhil 20) bt Malappuram 47 (Manoj 16); Ernakulam 73 (Sunny Thomas 17, Joseph John 16, S.S. Deepu 15) bt Kozhikode 66 (Bony Mathew 21, Robin James 14, Shijoy Thomas 13).

Women: Semifinals: Thrissur 82 (Ligi Peter 26, K.R. Neethu 16, Greesha Varghese 14) bt Kollam 81 (P. Smija 27, K.K. Sushama 15, V.K. Priyanka 13).

Quarterfinals: Kannur 78 (Thahira 21, Seena Joseph 20) bt Ernakulam 62 (Leena Jacob 14, Jilna Raj 12).

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