Dubai: Kareem Natafji of International School Chouiefat (ISC) was named “Player of the Week” after recording 20 points, five assists and six steals in a 58-21 day one win over Australian International School (AIS) in the High School Basketball Championship in Sharjah on Friday.
Natafji was central to a better all-round team performance from ISC, who cut-off AIS playmaker Harout Karakoulian’s options, limiting him to 17 points and 11 rebounds, before benefitting from the fact a fatigued AIS brought no substitutes.
Elsewhere Mohammad Safeer recorded 18 points, five rebounds and four steals as New Indian Model School (NIMS) beat Victoria International School Sharjah (VISS) 58-33 in day one’s other game.
Keeping VISS star player Cedric Macleod under pressure, Safeer was one of three NIMS players to enter double digit scoring after an aggressive start, forcing turnovers and converting on the counter. VISS couldn’t recover until a late surge well into the third quarter by which time it was too late. The High School Basketball Championship continues next Saturday as the focus shifts to the Dubai groups.
