BASKETBALL - JUNIOR A BOYS
Back Row : Isaiah Craig , Jonty Ellmore , Oliver Perwick , Bryn Cook , Charlie Ryan Front Row : Archer Engelke , Max Shannon , Dylan Ladhams , Isaac Ash , Liam Rae
The Senior A Boys were playing in boys Division 2 of the Basketball Hawke ’ s Bay Secondary School League this year . Former Havelock North High School student , Brandon Johnston , coached the team for the greater majority of the season and did a fantastic job to get them to improve from a relatively inexperienced group ( only four of the boys were returning from the 2020 season and the remainder had not played competitive basketball at this level before ) to a top four team during the regular season and qualification into the semi-finals .
While some of the team ’ s games showed their lack of experience against some teams , they managed to string together some really impressive wins . The most notable win of the season was over Central Hawke ’ s Bay College to cement a semi-final placing . This was the last regular season game and the last game Brandon was able to coach before heading back over to America to continue with his college volleyball scholarship . The team had improved a great deal since the first time they played CHBC ( which CHBC won comfortably ) so there was plenty to play for ! The game ebbed and flowed , staying pretty tight the whole way . With scores tied and five seconds left , we had the ball for the final shot and a chance to win . Unfortunately , Shane ’ s shot was partially blocked and we headed into overtime . This is where the two teams separated themselves , HNHS maintaining their cool and CHBC losing theirs . Leaders in that game , and throughout the season , were : Joe Yank ( 18 points , 12 rebounds , 3 blocks , 2 steals ), Shane Lowry ( 27 points , 8 rebounds , 5 assists , 2 steals ), Albert van Nierkerk ( 12 points , 20 rebounds , 4 assists , 5 steals ) and Cayden Taylor ( 7 points , 12 rebounds , 2 assists ).
The semi-final was played after the three week lockdown and we showed we were very rusty , losing to a classy Napier Boys ’ High Junior A team . The core of the team is back again next year , so there are promising signs of a team that will hopefully improve on the successes achieved this year . Huge thanks must go out to Brandon for coaching the team , Mr Lowry for his ever present support , former HNHS student Jack Waby for helping Brandon where he could , Sam Lea ’ aetoa for helping out with the scorebench and to all of the parents that supported the team throughout the year .
Rachel Ferbar Year 12
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