{"id":90740,"date":"2026-02-20T07:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T05:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90740"},"modified":"2026-02-20T07:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T05:42:02","slug":"top-teams-shine-brightly-on-day-one-of-jenny-orchard-invitational-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90740","title":{"rendered":"Top teams shine brightly on day one of Jenny Orchard Invitational Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Maritzburg College, seen here with Jenny Orchard (front right), is laser-focused on keeping the Jenny Orchard Invitation Basketball Title at home this year. Photo: Maritzburg College on Facebook.<\/strong> <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The annual Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament<\/strong>, hosted by Maritzburg College<\/strong>, kicked off on Thursday in Pietermaritzburg. The action continues through to Sunday, when a champion will be crowned.<\/p>\n

Catch the LIVE Action on SuperSport Schools\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Division A<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the opening day, the defending champions, Westville Boys’ High,<\/strong><\/a> narrowly defeated Soweto Basketball Academy<\/strong> by three points, staging a strong fightback to come from behind and claim a tight 53-50 win.<\/p>\n

Despite that defeat, the Soweto Basketball Academy did enough to suggest they could be in with a shout at the title on Sunday. Meanwhile, Pinelands High<\/strong>, led by the talented Aidan Erasmus<\/strong><\/a> and Shafiek Allie<\/strong>, also showed their teeth, romping to a 90-54 victory over their fellow Cape Town school, Rondebosch Boys’ High<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pinelands won the Wynberg Boys’ High Basketball Tournament<\/strong><\/a> in October last year and are eager to make an impact in Pietermaritzburg. They face a stiff challenge<\/p>\n

The competition at the Jenny Orchard Invitational Basketball Tournament is undoubtedly tough, and one of the title contenders is ESCA<\/strong>. In 2025, they won two titles within a span of 30 days, lifting the Westville Boys’ High Invitational Schools Stayers’ Basketball Tournament (ISSBT)<\/strong><\/a> trophy before winning The King’s School Linbro Park Basketball Tournament<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

ESCA lived up to expectations on Thursday, overrunning Wynberg Boys’ High<\/strong> 93-43, to make it clear that they are the team to beat in Pool C.<\/p>\n