SPORT Basketball
The 2023 season was a memorable one for many reasons. The start of the season was again disrupted by Covid-19, with trials and early games affected. We had another big cohort of teams, with 10 Friday teams and six Saturday teams, as well as three tournament teams and the Thomson Trophy team. Having three U15 Saturday teams again was a highlight, with all six Saturday teams proving to be competitive in their grades. Well done to the U20 team members who won their grade on Saturday in an impressive performance over Christchurch Boys’ High School. The Senior A team was one of the most dominant teams ever seen in the South Island, winning its third Thomson Trophy in a row, the South Island title, and nationals with outstanding performances. There were also plenty of individual highlights. Ihaka Cate represented the New Zealand U15 team at the Oceania Championships in Guam, while Hunter Adam was named in the New Zealand U17 team, which, unfortunately, did not travel to Iran because of safety concerns. Hunter Adam has received a scholarship to Davidson University in the United States, while Tom Harrison will be attending Connecticut College. Both join Old Boys Mason Whittaker (American University) and Josh Book (Missouri Western University) in playing and studying in the US. On top of this, many College players were named in Canterbury and North Canterbury teams. Thanks to all the team managers, staff and parents who have supported the programme this year.
I am grateful to have been part of such a successful season in my last year at College. I look forward to seeing the ongoing progress of the College basketball programme. Ben Sheat MiC Basketball SENIOR A BASKETBALL Managers: Caroline Black, Andrew Harrison, Nicky Harrison Head Coach: Ben Sheat Assistant Coaches: Joe Cook- Green, Rani Hammond Film Assistant: Fox Gray Team: Hunter Adam, Jordan Braithwaite, Nic Book, Ihaka Cate, Jacob Clements, Ed Davidson, Gus Eglinton, Santino Felitti-Duter, Tom Harrison, Truman Heath, Liam Jack, Will Jones, Fergus Johnston, Matthew Lewis, Rob McClean, Aston Nijjar, Austin Smith, Bruno Vaughan The 2022 season began the way 2021 finished, with Covid-19 causing havoc and disrupting the start, with nearly every member of the team and coaching staff being sick with the virus. However, the team just got on with training and preparing for, hopefully, a less disruptive season. With a quick turnaround, the team headed into the Thomson Trophy looking to build momentum after winning the previous two seasons. Only one other team had won the trophy three times in a row. This proved to be one of the hardest seasons yet, with players away on national duty and missing because of sickness. Even with all the disruptions, the team managed to get through the regular season winning nine of 10 games. In one week, the team was down to seven players and without coaches because of sickness.
Against the odds, and with Tom Harrison scoring 49 points, the team managed to beat Cashmere High School 92–84 before – later that week – going down to St Thomas of Canterbury College in the team’s only loss of the season. Heading to its fourth semi-final in a row, the team took on a tough St Bede’s College team. St Bede’s had the lead at half-time, 38–53. On the ropes, College put in a great effort to come back and take the win, 89–82. The team then beat St Thomas, 99–81, in a dominant display in front of 1000 spectators at Cowles Stadium. This capped an impressive three titles in a row and stamped College’s current dominance in Christchurch. During the annual Otago Boys’ High School exchange in Dunedin, the team played two games. The first game was a comfortable 90–56 win, with Hunter Adam scoring 26 points and 16 rebounds. The second game was much tighter, with another strong Hunter performance – 30 points and 10 rebounds – leading the team to take the win, 84–69. For the first time since 2019, the South Island tournament went ahead. The team started off extremely well as it made up for lost time over the previous seasons. In pool play, the team dispatched Marlborough Boys’ College, Kaiapoi High School, Rangiora High School, James Hargest College, and Cashmere High School, with an average winning margin of 66 points per game and the closest game being 51. The team went on to take down Shirley Boys’ High School in the quarter-final, 105–65; Nelson College in the semi-final, 89–64; and, most impressively, Waimea College, 106–55, in the final. On its way to becomimg South Island champion, College excelled with the
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