Oakridge, Chirec champs
Oakridge International boys and Chirec Public School girls were crowned champions at the BFI-IMG interschool basketball league in the city
Oakridge International School and Chirec Public School emerged the winners in the boys’ and girls’ competitions respectively in the inaugural edition of the BFIIMG Reliance inter-school basketball league — organised by the Hyderabad District Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India — at the YMCA in Secunderabad.
In the finals, Oakridge defeated Gitanjali School 54-25 and Chirec got the better of St Pious High School 44-19.
The winners in both the events pocketed `50,000 while the runners-up walked away with `30,000.
Hyderabad Public School boys and Delhi Public School girls won their respective third place pay-offs and were given `20,000 each for their efforts.
HPS defeated Chirec boys 50-36 while DPS quelled a challenge from Future Kids School 39-30.
Oakridge were the more aggressive team from the start, making frequent inroads into their opponents’ defence to build up a healthy lead.
Karthik, who was adjudged the boys’ player of the tournament, led the scoring right from the starting whistle. Oakridge ran riot as they racked up a 22-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.
By the end of the second, Oakridge led 28-14.
Over the next two quarters, Oakridge scored another 26 points while allowing their opponents to shoot only 11 to wrap up a comfortable victory. Karthik top-scored with 17. With their title triumph, Chirec ensured they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Chirec employed a mix of tight defense and belligerent offense to end the first quarter 16-6 in the lead.
In the second quarter, Chirec continued to dominate and entered the third quarter with a healthy 28-8 scoreline.
Over the next two quarters, Chirec scored 16 more points while St Pious scored 11 more.
Dristi, who top-scored for Chirec with 16 points, was adjudged the best girls’ player.
Sabreen, who scored eight points, and Sanhita, who scored six, played good supporting roles.