Club play continued in the Canterbury Basketball competition last weekend with a mixed bag of results for St Bede’s teams.

U20 vs Pioneer Blue L 56-80

(Harvey O’Neill 14, James Leen 11)

U17 Red vs Rolleston College L 66-72

(Lochie McLean 20, Agar Torres 13, Thomas Martin 11)

U17 Black vs Gators Green W 93-54

(Peter Gamble 17, Connor Fyall 17, Max McLeod 14, Edan Taylor 11)

U15A vs Celebration Lions Purple W 70-69

(Cooper Siave 24, Troy Cutbush 23, Harry Courname 11)

U15 Black vs Shirley Spartans B L 71-72

(Cooper McDowall 18, Lee Simpson 13, Brent Bontuyan 12)

U15 Red vs Selwyn Hawks L 32-55

(Scorers unavailable)

U15 White vs Gators White L 49-109

(Nikau Campbell 15, Brad Lonarioas 13, Ryan Cooke 11)

Tomorrow sees all of our teams play at St Bede’s in a Club Bay which will feature a BBQ throughout the day and a collection point for the Boots for Ballers initiative put if place by a couple of our parents. The day is a great opportunity to showcase all of our teams “at home” and allow players and supporters to watch other teams who would normally be scattered across the city.

Our senior side commenced its Thomson Trophy season, the Canterbury Secondary school competition which is held on Tuesday nights. In the opening clash we travelled to St Thomas to take on a side which had impressed against some quality opposition during the pre-season.

A fast start from Bede’s saw it take an early lead, effectively combating the press defence implemented by St Thomas. With scores locked 23-23 all at quarter time, St Bede’s looked to surge ahead leading into halftime, however, St Thomas began to find their range from 3-point territory and took the halftime lead 29-21.

The Bede’s lineup attempted to wrest the lead away, however, the home team continued to shoot consistently from deep and increased their lead during both second stanza quarters, eventually winning 99-78. Leading Bede’s contributors (James Leen 25 points, 12 rebounds, Ashton Walls 18 points, 9 rebounds, Harvey O’Neill 16 points, Griffyn Westwood 14 points, 7 rebounds).

Next Thomson Trophy assignment for the team is next Tuesday away at Rangiora High with a 7pm tip off. Would be awesome to have your support for this match.

This week we also feature one of our senior players, Griffyn Westwood, and his recent journey within the rep basketball environment.

I’m Griff, the one third in from the right, and in 2020 I was selected for the U17 Boys Waitaha Performance Program which led me to trial for the team going onto Nationals which took place in Christchurch that same year.

I was then invited to join the Mainland Eagles Academy and Basketball New Zealand ‘Summer Camps’ in November 2020.

This was such a privilege and something I really wanted to do. I knew I would learn so much and play with and against such talent in New Zealand. Of course, I accepted and now we’re training again as I have been successfully able to return to the team for this year’s 2021 U17Nationals competition in Dunedin this July.

From there I was invited to trial for the U19 Junior National (New Zealand) team, these trials took place in most centres around New Zealand in early February, I travelled to Ashburton for a full day of basketball, it was hard work and a great experience.

So far, I haven’t been selected to represent my country, but I’m very happy to represent my region and my school.

My goals are to get better as a player, being exposed to all sorts of players, coaches and cultures within these teams. I’m proud to play with my mates at school level basketball and continue to grow and learn as a player.