JC, Hydel pumped up for clash

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica College (JC) will face Hydel in today's feature match in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association KFC Southern Conference Under-19 Basketball quarter-finals at the National Stadium Courts, starting at 4 p.m.

In the day's other senior game, which will be played simultaneously, unbeaten St Andrew Technical High School will tackle Campion College.

The Under-16 teams will also be involved in quarter-final play at the venue. At 2:30 p.m., defending champions Ardenne High will oppose Tivoli Gardens, while St Jago will face Vauxhall High, at the same venue.

The JC-Hydel game should be a very intriguing contest as both teams play a similar attacking style.

Rohan Cruise, coach of the JC, who finished the preliminary round unbeaten with seven wins, said his team is full of confidence.

"My team is extremely confident, but also humble and focused because the Hydel coach was the head coach of my team two seasons ago, and as result of this he is well aware of the JC players' abilities," said Cruise.

"We always play a creative and systematic style of ball game and I believe that once we stick to our style of ball game then we should come out on top," Cruise outlined.

JC, which last won the title in 2004, will rest their hopes in the hands of their star player and shooting guard, Alex Robinson, along with centre James McDonald and small forward Craig Scott.

Cruise's opposite number, Kurt Stewart, whose team was beaten in last year's semi-final by Ardenne High, said his team is raring to go.

"My boys are anxiously awaiting this game because JC are unbeaten in the competition and many persons are predicting them to win the title. But we are going out there to prove that we are also one of the top teams in the island, and we can win this competition," said Stewart.

"However, I think we will have to play a very disciplined and slow tempo game in order to beat JC, because they are very fast, attacking team."

Stewart added: "We have some of the best basketball players at this age in the country and we are also currently on a high, but I believe that it should be a very exciting game to watch."

The Ferry-based Hydel will be depending heavily on their inspirational leader and point guard, Jhovan Redman, along with forwards Jervis Hamilton and Paul Richards and guard Renford Rockwood.