St Mary’s High School enjoyed a highly successful and memorable day at the basketball finals, with all three teams demonstrating the values that are central to our school community.

Both the Year 9 and Year 10 teams were coached by Year 10 student Maddie S, whose composure, leadership and excellent player management were impressive throughout the day. Maddie’s ability to guide her teams calmly under pressure was a credit to her maturity and understanding of the game.

The Year 9 team set the tone for the day with a determined and courageous performance. Despite the late withdrawal of Vice Captain Jake Holland due to illness, the team showed resilience in the face of early adversity, falling behind 16–2 in the opening quarter. Strong leadership from Adrian S, Sterling L and Zack J sparked a second-quarter resurgence, reducing the margin to 24–12 at halftime. Outstanding defensive efforts from Theo S (Year 8), Alex S and Cyrus F helped contain the opposition, however a strong JMHS attack ultimately proved decisive. St Mary’s went down 50–21 in a match that showcased grit and determination. Jacob W and Ryley B were named joint Players of the Match for their outstanding energy and effort throughout.

The Year 10 final followed and proved to be one of the most competitive games of the day. The team faced challenges in the first half, trailing 20–9 at the break. At halftime, Maddie delivered a composed and focused team talk, setting clear and achievable goals while emphasising the need for effort and belief. The response was exceptional. The third quarter saw Noah A, Hubert Z, Will H and Mati G score crucial baskets to bring the margin back to just two points at 21–23. A tense final quarter followed, with the opposition’s quality ultimately proving the difference as St Mary’s narrowly lost 30–25. Laurie R was awarded Player of the Match for his consistent impact on both offence and defence.

The day concluded with an outstanding performance from the Year 11 team, who were exemplary ambassadors for St Mary’s High School. They supported one another, showed respect to officials and opponents, and maintained a positive attitude throughout. The first half was fiercely contested, with both teams scoring freely. Jan L and Fin H were dominant around the basket, helping St Mary’s establish a 27–20 lead at halftime in front of a growing crowd. Captain Alex L then took control of the match, scoring three long-range three-pointers and two layups to create separation. Strong defensive contributions from Tom G and Tom L further strengthened the team’s dominance, resulting in a convincing 69–37 victory at full time.

Congratulations to all players on their efforts and achievements, and thank you to the staff (Especially Mike who taxied all day) and supporters who contributed to a memorable finals day for St Mary’s High School.