Golconda Gladiators boys and Secunderabad Stallions girls emerge Youth champions

Golconda Gladiators and Secunderabad Stallions shared the honours on the final day’s action of the Sub-Junior & Youth League 2026 for boys & girls conducted by The Hyderabad District Basketball Association at YMCA Secunderabad.

Golconda Gladiators won the Youth boys’ title after defeating Secunderabad Stallions 45-34, but their girls were unable to emulate them. In the Youth girls’ final, Secunderabad Stallions pulled off a 49-31 upset win over Golconda Gladiators to be crowned champions.

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In the boys’ final, Golconda Gladiators and Secunderabad Stallions began on a rousing note. The teams went neck and neck in the first quarter as both sides scored baskets at will. By the end of the first quarter, they were inseparable as the Gladiators and the Stallions were tied at 14-14.

Secunderabad Stallions, who finished runners-up in the Youth boys’ category

In the second quarter, a chastened Golconda Gladiators changed their strategy. They tightened their defence and thereby restricted Secunderabad Stallions to just seven points. Golconda Gladiators, on the other hand, scored 14 points through Prajwal and Shrien to take a handy eight-point lead. They led 29-21 at half-time.

After change of ends, the pace of the game reduced as both sides focused on restricting their rivals. The teams scored six points apiece which meant that Golconda Gladiators led 35-27 at the end of the third quarter. Golconda Gladiators were more than happy with the way the game shaped up in the third quarter.

Golconda Gladiators tame Secunderabad Stallions 60-57 to win Sub Junior boys’ final

In the last quarter, Secunderabad Stallions made a valiant bid to stage a comeback but were unable to penetrate the tight defense. Golconda Gladiators scored 10 points in the quarter while conceding only seven to their rivals. Thus, Golconda Gladiators won the match 45-34.

Praneeth was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the final for the 10 points he had scored and also for controlling of the ball well.

Stallions too good for Gladiators

In the well-contested Youth girls’ final, the game was evenly poised till about the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. Both teams matched each other basket for basket and that kept the spectators on tenterhooks.

Sudeeksha and Yakshita combined well for Secunderabad Stallions to score six points in the first quarter. However, Pavani of Golconda Gladiators dominated the proceedings by scoring six points alone. With Khushboo lending her good support, Golconda Gladiators finished the first quarter with a 10-6 lead.

Secunderabad Stallions, who won the Youth girls’ final, with Ravula Sridhar Reddy, president, Telangana Basketball Association and The Hyderabad District Basketball Association (THDBA), and Norman Isaac, THDBA secretary

In the evenly contested second quarter, Golconda Gladiators scored eight points with Khushboo scoring four of those through drive-in. On the other hand, Mahima and Anya scored 6 points between them to keep Secunderabad Stallions in the hunt. Golconda Gladiators went into the break with a six-point lead. They were 18-12 ahead of Secunderabad Stallions.

After the lemon break, Secunderabad Stallions tightened their defense around Pavani, who was the main scorer for Golconda Gladiators, and restricted their rivals to just three points. Mahima and Anya continue with their scoring spree as they narrowed the gap between the teams to just one point. By the end of the third quarter, Golconda Gladiators were 21-20 up but it was going to be anyone’s game in the final quarter.

In the last quarter till about four minutes to go, the teams were going neck and neck. The tight defense of Secunderabad Stallions around Pavani affected Golconda Gladiators offense. Sudeeksha using her height to good affect scored from the paint but it was Mahima who scored four 3-pointers in the last six minutes of the match to take the game away from Golconda Gladiators. Secunderabad Stallions won the final 49-31. Stallions had scored a whopping 29 points in the final quarter, while Gladiators managed to get 10.

Golconda Gladiators with the chief guest and other dignitaries

Mahima was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the final for the 20 points she scored with four 3-pointers.

Ravula Sridhar Reddy, president, Telangana Basketball Association and The Hyderabad District Basketball Association distributed the MVP awards, medals, certificates & Trophy to the teams.

Results: Youth Boys (final): Golconda Gladiators 45 (Prajwal 12, Praneeth 10, Shrien 6, Vishnu 6) beat Secunderabad Stallions 34 (Sai Charan 9, Amshul 7, Charan 5) Half-time: 29-21.

Youth Girls (final): Secunderabad Stallions 49 (Mahima 20, Sudeeksha 12, Anya 6) beat Golconda Gladiators 31 (Pavani 9, Khushboo 8, Lydia 6) Half-time: 12-18.