11 Boys Basketball v Sidcot

On Thursday 26 January the year 11 boys basketball team travelled to Sidcot School in search of a victory on the basketball court. Performances of late have been frustrating for the boys as they haven’t quite been able to reproduce their best basketball when it matters. On arrival the boys instantly began talking about how tall their opponents looked and worrying themselves with their warm-up drills. I was convinced that they were talking themselves out of the game before it had even started which is unusual for this group of young men!

Sure enough when the game started the SK boys were on the back foot. Despite this it was actually them who visited the basket first but they were unable to make it count and thoughts quickly turned to their last game when missed chances plagued their performance. It wasn’t long before Sidcot got on the board and this dented the boys further still. They went through the motions for the first of the game and didn’t really compete to the best of their ability. There was no lack of effort, there never is with this bunch, but there was a distinct lack of self-belief! The only notable moments in the first half were Max driving hard on two occasions for the only 4 points in the first quarter and Lewis Mason doing the same for the only 2 points in the second quarter. First the first period we rebounded almost no ball at all but improved hugely in the second as Lewis Mason, Ben Paines & Chris Sirrell made it their mission to box & compete.

At half time the boys found themselves 26-6 down and in need of something to kick start their performance. The spark actually came from the side when two boys who were not on the court started to become vocal in support of their team mates. Ciaran and Mason are loud at the best of times but it was their encouragement that got the boys going. It can be intimidating playing away from home as students from the host school packed the viewing balcony in support of their team. It was then Ciaran who got the SK score moving when he ran hard onto a brilliant chest pass to hit his lay-up – needless to say that he was just as loud on the court! Ciaran and Mason were pumped up and really worked hard to get their team into the game. They started to move the ball a lot faster and with much more confidence and as a result tripled their score in the third period with additional baskets from Spicer, Tryfonos and Mason.

For the last two periods the boys matched the Sidcot scoring rate and they began to question why they had not played with this level of confidence right from the outset! Despite their newly found freedom the difference between the two sides was still the execution under the hoop but in terms of passing, movement, desire to steal the ball and determination SK were matching their opponents if not edging the contest. SK totalled 19 points in the second half of the match to Sidcot’s 22, with more scores in the final period from Dunford-Hennessy, Tryfonos and Spicer.

MVP was a difficult decision as there were a couple of contenders. Max topped the points table and drew a lot of contact in doing so. Lewis rebounded the ball really well defensively at a time when Sidcot were winning everything under the basket but for me Mason Smart edged it. Mason showed a huge hunger to compete and a burning desire to win back possession. The tipping point for me was when he hurled himself back over the half way line to prevent a backcourt violation – a magic moment!

The group were obviously disappointed with the defeat but proved to themselves that they could compete against Sidcot and are now relishing the opportunity to welcome them back to St Kath’s for a return fixture later this year. My thanks to Sidcot for their exceptional hospitality – the boys were treated to sandwiches and snacks at the end of the match much to their delight. A special mention also to Tom Green who despite being injured, travelled with the boys and took some great photographs!

Well done gents.

Mr Cook