Page 42 - 2023 - The Altiora Vol 75

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42 | SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS
SPOR
TING HIGHLIGHTS
USTRALIAN SCHOOLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
A
Over the past two years there has been a big focus on the
development of Basketball at BMGS. This includes sending
both a girls’ and boys’ team to the Australian Schools Basketball
Championships on the Gold Coast.
This is a challenging competition and whilst the players have
found the standards high they have risen to the occasion and
worked to improve both their individual skills and teamwork as the
tournament progressed.
After the experience of this event in 2022, both teams were
keen to return to the Championships in December, with a better
understanding of what was required for success. The girls were
entered in the 17 Years and Under Division 2 competition, which
was always going to be difficult assignment.
Whilst the girls did not come home with a win, they were able to
maintain an equal amount of offensive ball in all their games, which
will be the key focus for the team in preparation for the 2024
championships.
The majority of our boys’ team had competed in 2022. This gave
the team an advantage, and they knew what had to be done from
Game 1 if they were to gain success. The boys were entered in the
17 Years and Under Division 4 competition.
The boys’ Divisions in this age group were
very strong, with many teams containing
a number of representative players and
some playing in State teams therefore the
boys had a big job ahead of them.
Game 1 was on the same court that the
boys had played their last Game in 2022,
and they were focused and ready to take
on anyone. The team was able to defeat
Lilydale High School convincingly, 93-31,
which was a great start to the tournament.
The boys spent time watching the other
teams in their Division to identify key
players and strengths that they would
have to deal with.
During the week the boys had many
successes, defeating Reddam House
in both the round games and the Semi-
Finals, Bishop Druitt College and Bulli
High School. Their biggest challenge was
Mosman High School. They met this team
in the round games and found they played
a slightly different style of Basketball
from the other teams and they went down
68-45. The BMGS boys held their heads
high and focused on still progressing to
the Finals. After a 62-36 win over Reddam
House in the Semi-Finals, the team was
back to the challenge of Mosman High
School for the grand finals.
The boys started the game well, holding
the lead over Mosman in the first two
quarters. The third quarter saw the
Mosman team start to capitalise on every
opportunity to close the gap on BMGS
with the teams coming off the court
at three-quarter time on equal points.
Unfortunately, in the final quarter, the
Mosman team employed different tactics
that moved them ahead on the scoreboard
and delivered them the Championship.
The BMGS boys should be extremely
proud of their success in not only bringing
home the silver medal, but for always
displaying good sportsmanship and a
never-give-up attitude.
Pictured top left, l to r: Mr Jack Bell (Assistant
Coach), Luke Johnson-Leibbrand, Eric Downes,
Tommy Wooldridge, Albie Whitelaw, Arthur Pero-
Gorrick, Ms Teiarna Offner (Coach). Front row:
Monty Darwin, Harry Daniels, Cooper Mackie,
James Masselos and Zach Ivery.
Pictured bottom left, l to r, Ms Teiarna Offner
(Assistant Coach), Iluka Horn, Lola Draguns, Zara
Perisce-Burrell, Arabella Hutchinson, Mr Jack Bell
(Coach). Front row: Soraya Saban, Giselle Brogan,
Angela Collins, Emily Weber, Rose Perisce-Burrell
and Sophie Patton.