Kottayam clinched the girls' title while their boys retained the crown in the state junior basketball championship in Thodupuzha.
In a thrilling final, Kottayam edged Thiruvnanthapuram in doube extra-time, 97-95, for the girls' title. In the boys' final, meanwhile, the holders defeated hosts Idukki 82-67 with Sajeesh top scoring 30.
Ann Mary Zacharia's incredible 50 points was the highlight of the girls' final and she rightly secured the Most Valuable Player award along with Jerome Prince of Kottayam who had scored 22 in the other final.
Senior international Sreekala R. had inspired the team from the capital to a 17-12 lead and they also led, 44-28, at the break.
Even though Kottayam staged a comeback Thiruvananthapuram led 57-46 at the end of the third quarter before Ann Maria powered Kottayam back into the game and at the end of the fourth period the scores were tied at 74.
The game then went in to an extra period and after the scores were again level, this time on 84, a second extra period was required, in which Kottayam pipped the formidable side from the capital.
Derailed scores (Final)
Girls: Kottayam 96 (Ann Mary Zacharia 50, Anu Maria 15) bt Thiruvananthapuram 95 (Sreekala 25, Haleena Jan 22, Chinnu Koshy 15)
Boys: Kottayam 82 (Sajeesh 30, Jerome Prince 22) bt Idukki 67 (Tom Jose 28, Tony Benny 16)
