KATHMANDU: Golden Gate ‘A’ and White House International College claimed the seventh Prime Cup U-19 (+2) Basketball Championships, both the teams defeating defending champions Prime College in boys’ and girls’ section today.

Vikram Dangol posted a

match winning 31 points that included five three-pointers in the boys’ final to help Golden Gate register a thrilling 59-56 victory over Prime. Golden Gate maintained a three-point lead (12-9) in the first quarter and were looking strong till the fifth minute of the second with 18-9.

Prime then bounced back scoring 19 points within three minutes amidst their huge college fans and took a two-point lead making it 28-26 in the

first half. It was then the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Vikram Dangol who came into play to give his team a 42-39 lead in the third quarter. Dangol netted two consecutive three-pointers when his side was trailing in the third and fired another one with 50 seconds to go which put his team with a slim lead.

The final eight minutes were more tensed as both teams kept on chasing each other. Golden Gate were ahead till the second minute with 47-41 but Prime retained the lead in the fourth minute with 48-47. Golden Gate’s regular Sanjay Tuladhar

was sent off for five foul but as Pradip Bhattachan and Dangol didn’t miss on the chances in the dying moments, they eventually won the match. Mausam Gauchan scored 18 points for the losing side.

Earlier in the girls’ final, White House registered a thrilling one-point win, defeating Prime 29-28. Anisha Malla of White House and Babita Pun of Prime scored 13 points each. Prime were ahead 7-6 in the first quarter but couldn’t maintain it in the second as White House scored 10 to the hosts’ seven leaving the first half score 16-14. White House once again took a slim three-point lead in the third after scoring six points while giving away five to Prime. Though Prime were better in the final quarter scoring nine to seven of White House, they were left ruing a miss in the dying moments which could have turned result the other way round. Anisha Malla of White House was adjudged the MVP.