Amrutha’s three-point show breaks Thrissur’s heart.

E.K. Amrutha, a mother of a three-year-old kid, came up with a sparkling three-point show as Alappuzha edged past Thrissur 59-57 and entered the women’s semifinal of the 68th Kerala State senior basketball championship at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium on Friday.

The 28-year-old, one of the four KSEB stars who are playing as guests for Alappuzha, hoisted seven threes for a total of 27 points to break Thrissur’s heart.

Thrissur, down 4-14 at one stage in the first quarter, had made an impressive recovery before that. The side, packed with college girls from Irinjalakuda’s St. Joseph’s and Chalakudy’s Sacred Heart, was level at 25 at half-time and even led 43-41 after the third quarter. But Amrutha, who was nicely supported by Nimmy Mathew and Olivia Shaibu, produced two three-pointers at a crucial stage in the last quarter and then came up with a nice lay-up as Alappuzha pulled off a stunning win.

For Thrissur, Aleena Antony’s 25 points went in vain.

Meanwhile Ernakulam men and Thiruvananthapuram women, the defending champions, cruised into the semifinals.

Ernakulam men, despite losing three of their stars including Indian player Vaisakh with injuries, brushed aside Alappuzha 77-37 while Thiruvananthapuram women toyed with Pathanamthitta for a 67-20 verdict.