Shillong, Sep 21: St Edmund’s and St Mary’s won the boys’ and girls’ categories of the Shillong Inter School Basketball Tournament 2025 at the Pearly Dew Higher Secondary School basketball court in Jaiaw Laitdom here on Saturday.
There were two girls’ teams that entered the tournament and so they automatically went into yesterday’s final where St Mary’s HSS defeated Mylliem Presbyterian Secondary School in a one-sided contest 42-4, with Rimesha scoring 14 points alone for St Mary’s.
The boys’ final was between St Edmund’s ISC and Mizo Modern HSS. Eight teams entered the boys’ competition, with St Edmund’s and Mizo Modern having been drawn in the same group where Edmund’s pipped Mizo Modern by a solitary point on the first day.
It was less tight in the final but no less enthralling, with St Edmund’s taking the title 54 to 38. A Mawthoh and D Kharbuki scored 18 and 13 points respectively for the champions, while Ishan scored 14 as Mizo Modern valiantly tried to give their opponents a fight.
The semifinals were held earlier in the day, with St Edmund’s requiring overtime to beat Little Flower HSS 60-52. Edmund’s were leading going into the fourth quarter but Little Flower pulled themselves level and the scoreboard read 43-43 at the end. That necessitated overtime, where the lead was traded between the two teams before St Edmund’s took the game away. Mawthoh scored 29 – nearly half – of Edmund’s points, while M Mawrie (17) and G Kharbuki (13) were the biggest contributors in terms of points to Little Flower’s cause.
The second semifinal saw Mizo Modern defeat Jaiaw Presbyterian HSS 38 to 31 in yet another remarkable display of skill, determination and teamwork.
Both champion teams were awarded Rs 20,000 each, while the two runners-up took home Rs 10,000 each. The Most Valuable Player in the boys’ category was Little Flower’s Gedion Kharbuki, while the girls MVP was Phibandarijanai Lamare of Mylliem Presbyterian.
Several dignitaries were present at the closing ceremony, including Sanbha Mawlong, the Superintendent of the Public Works Department (R&B Secretariat Branch), former players and senior members of the Meghalaya Basketball Association and East Khasi Hills District Basketball Association.
DUBAKH Sports Pvt Ltd, the organisers, extended their heartfelt gratitude to all participating schools, players, referees, technical officials and sponsors “for their invaluable support in making the tournament a grand success.”
“The enthusiastic presence of parents and supporters throughout the event added to the electrifying atmosphere. The Shillong Inter School Basketball Tournament 2025 has once again proven to be a premier platform for nurturing young basketball talent, fostering discipline and building a strong sporting culture in Meghalaya,” it added.
