Basketball - Kearsney College vs Maritzburg College

Basketball. Photo: Kearsney’s Kabo Ramodibedi in the game against Maritzburg College

Kearsney College travelled to Pietermaritzburg to play the weekend’s basketball fixture against Maritzburg College, not having won a game in Alan Paton Hall for some time.

The reality of playing against College at home is tough. The crowd is hostile, the temperature inside the venue is excruciating and the hoops are difficult, requiring some home court knowledge.

College started fast and Kearsney struggled to deal with the environment, missing easy shots and turning over the ball needlessly. They were down 20 – 8 at the end of the first quarter and were not looking good.

In the second quarter, however, they fought back to cut the lead to five through some tough defense and better shot selection. The teams went into half-time with Kearsney trailing 25 – 20.

The third quarter was closely contested but, as hard as Kearsney tried, their missed opportunities on offence. It hurt them when they allowed College to score easy baskets and relieve the pressure they were being put under defensively. College won the third quarter 17 – 11.

Kearsney had left too much to do in the fourth quarter and, although they fought hard, they could not dig themselves from the hole they had created. College won 74 – 54.

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