By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 13: The second day of the Shillong Inter-School Basketball Tournament produced a feast of basketball for fans, with seven gripping contests showcasing the energy, flair, and determination of the city’s young athletes. From dominant displays to hard-fought battles, the day underlined both individual brilliance and the importance of teamwork as schools clashed for early supremacy.
Mizo Modern Higher Secondary School opened proceedings with a strong 53-39 win over Jaiaw Presbyterian HSS. Led by the trio of Pamai (12 pts), Lorlmmowia (11 pts) and A Das (10 pts), Mizo Modern kept their opponents at bay despite spirited efforts from G Mawlong (19 pts) and B Syiemiong (13 pts).
St Edmund’s ISC then proved too sharp for Mawkhar Christian HSS, sealing a 39-19 victory with a balanced all-round display. D Kharbukhi top-scored with 9 points while Nongkynrih (10 pts) was the lone standout for Mawkhar.
Little Flower HSS stamped their authority in a one-sided clash against Shillong Public School, running out 35-10 winners on the back of G Kharbuli’s 14 points.
One of the day’s most closely fought encounters came in Game 4, where Dinet Manik Memorial HSS edged Pearly Dew HSS 36-28. The pairing of M K Marak (14 pts) and B Boro (11 pts) proved decisive, overcoming the resistance of D Suting and D Dohling (10 pts each).
Jaiaw Presbyterian bounced back from their earlier defeat with an emphatic 46-14 victory over Mawkhar Christian, thanks to a commanding 22-point haul from G Umlong, ably supported by B Syiemiong (10 pts).
Little Flower continued their sparkling form later in the day, riding on an outstanding 27-point performance from G Kharbuli to beat Pearly Dew 46-27.
For Pearly Dew, D Suting once again impressed with 21 points but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
The day concluded with Dinet Manik Memorial HSS registering their second win, defeating Shillong Public School 30-14. Star performer M K Marak led the charge with 20 points, while E M Khartarin’s 8 points stood out for Shillong Public.
With two days completed, the tournament has already delivered a string of exciting encounters, setting the stage for even fiercer battles as teams push towards the knockout rounds.