#14:  41^ST SUB-JUNIOR NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – KERALA GIRLS CLINCH GOLD MEDAL

(Vishnu Ravi Shankar) Nashik, 28 November 2014: The Kerala girls team have emerged winners of the 2014 Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship here in Nashik for the first time in the tournament’s 41 year history. The Kerala team defeated last year’s winners Chhattisgarh 78-72 and clinched the gold medal. The captain of the Kerala girls team put in an MVP-caliber performance with 36 points and 9 rebounds. Kerala’s Danielie Mathews pulled down 13 offensive rebounds and ended up with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Chhattisgarh was up by two points 37-35 heading into the half-time break. However, Kerala came into the second half all guns blazing to build a double0digit lead. Despite outscoring Kerala in the fourth quarter, Chhattisgarh was unable to catch up to the Kerala team. Kerala Coach Winny Bestin ably guided his team that put up a solid show on both the offensive and defensive ends, using their size to their advantage. Unfortunately, for Chhattisgarh coach Rajesh Patel, this year’s Kerala team was too hot to handle and he was unable to achieve back-to-back titles at the Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship. Elizabet Ekka top scored for Chhattisgarh with 37 points.

Please note the details of the girls’ final below:

Kerala (Sreekala R. 36, Aparna Sadasivan 15, Danielie Mathews 13) bt Chhattisgarh (Elizabet Ekka 37, Neha Karva 17, Nagmani M. 10) 78-72 (22-18, 13-19, 21-11, 22-24)