Montego Bay, Jamaica – Manchester High School cemented its dominance in schoolboy basketball with another commanding performance, successfully defending both the Under-16 and Under-19 ISSA Rural Area titles in a best-of-three series against Herbert Morrison Technical.
With the finals concluding in Montego Bay, Manchester High’s depth and consistency proved too much for their rivals, as they swept both age groups in two straight games, maintaining their grip on rural basketball supremacy.
Under-16: Ricketts Leads the Charge
Herbert Morrison showed early resilience in Game 2 of the Under-16 finals, trailing by just one point (10-9) after the first quarter. However, once Manchester High settled in, the game quickly slipped away. Standout player Jelani Ricketts was the difference-maker, delivering a sensational triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 steals. His impact on both ends of the court helped push Manchester High to a 23-15 halftime lead, and by the fourth quarter, they had surged ahead 39-21.
Jayquan Palmer added 12 points and dominated the boards with 20 rebounds, while Michael Johnson led Herbert Morrison with 12 points in a losing effort.
Under-19: Daley and Nembhard Seal the Deal
The Under-19 championship was no different, with Manchester High imposing its will early. Player of the Final Oral Daley delivered a near triple-double, registering 14 points, 11 rebounds, and a staggering eight blocks. His defensive presence made life difficult for Herbert Morrison, who struggled to generate offensive momentum.
Manchester High led at every quarter break—13-8 after the first, 27-13 at halftime, and 33-20 heading into the final stretch—before closing out a 43-28 win. Shane Nembhard chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds, adding to Herbert Morrison’s woes.
Despite Herbert Morrison’s Daniel Clarke putting up a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), his team couldn’t match Manchester High’s relentless pace.
Top Performers Earn Recognition
Beyond the championship wins, individual accolades were handed out to standout players from across the competition:
- Under-16 MVP: Christopher Henderson (Manchester High)
- Under-19 MVP: Rahim Hayles (Belair High)
- Most Points: Chad-Romel Smith (Belair High)
- Most Rebounds: Revonne Hinds (STETHS)
- Most Blocks: D’Khamron Scott (Belair High)
- Most Steals: Nathanael Reynolds (Manchester High)
- Most Assists: Jordan Anderson (St James High)
- Most Three-Pointers: Joshua Ferguson (Herbert Morrison)
With another successful season in the books, Manchester High’s basketball program continues to thrive, setting the bar even higher for rural high school basketball in Jamaica.
