SPORT Basketball
MiC: Travis Dixon Basketball continues to grow in profile and popularity at Christ’s College. With more than 200 participants this year, it is one of the biggest sports at College. With the opening of Upper West, the boys have made the most of the excellent Hickman Gymnasium, further lifting the basketball programme.
In addition, the Senior A squad has refereed senior games. The opening of the Hickman Gymnasium has doubled the number of home games, with strong courtside support across all grades. Despite the highs and lows of tight wins or big losses, and an occasional default, most boys have relished the experience. This was evident for some Year 13 students who used the competition as the kaupapa of their documentaries for their Media Studies class. While all the teams were competitive, three standouts – the Senior Kings, Intermediate Spurs, and the Year 9 Cavs – made their respective finals.
College in the quarter-final, losing by one point in double-overtime in the semi-final, and finishing 3rd in the Boys Open Grade. The U15 Grey and U15 White teams featured many boys who had not played competitive basketball, so they learnt much and improved with each game to finish 6–7 and 4–7, respectively. The U17 Black team continued to improve, and most of the members made up the Senior B tournament team for the Southern Cup in Ashburton. In a competition dominated by Year 13 players, the Years 11–12 team played exceptional basketball to finish the season well. College was undefeated in pool play before losing to Thomson Trophy Division 2 winner Hagley College in the semi-final. The team beat Shirley Boys’ High School to finish 3rd. The U17 White team finished 10–3, impressively holding opponents to just 56 points per game. It was wonderful to see the Year 13s in the U20 White team able to play a high standard of basketball, rather than be relegated to social grades on Friday nights. It was a great season as the boys finished their five years of College basketball. Meanwhile, the U20 Black team was very successful, finishing the season 13–3 and winning the U20 competition for the first time in College history. It featured Senior A boys, minus most of the starting five. This strategy has developed excellent depth across the Senior A team, underpinning the success of the top team – winner of the Thomson Trophy for the fourth time in five years, runner-up to Waimea College at the South Island tournament, and undefeated in winning the national title. At the national tournament in Palmerston North, College dominated
FRIDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL
The Friday night competition allows students to develop teamwork and communication while having fun with friends. This year, more than 120 boys have regularly played on Friday nights, including those taking to the court for the first time and others who have played competitively in the past. Three Year 9 teams, five intermediate, and four senior teams have lined up for College. All boys do bench duty, but many have also stepped up to referee or help with bench duty as service hours for their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
COMPETITIVE BASKETBALL
With more gym space, we could increase the number of Saturday teams from six to seven (three U15 teams, two U17 teams, and two U20 teams). The U15 Black team had a difficult season but turned it around at a tournament in Dunedin, beating U15 champion St Thomas of Canterbury
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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