North reach last eight on the national stage

VICTORY OVER AYLESBURY GRAMMAR SEES LIONS THROUGH TO QUARTER-FINALS Basketball

North School Varsity Lions moved into the last-eight of the under-19 National Schools Competition, beating Aylesbury Grammar School 67-62.

Guard Kai Potts was named the game’s most valuable player with 15 points, six assists, two steals and 100% from the free-throw line.

Coach Andrew Sunderland said: “We knew that Aylesbury would play high tempo, physical basketball and we responded with our best performance of the season.

“We played with intensity and intelligence for four quarters and were completely selfless on both ends of the floor.

“The great thing is that we still have room to progress and we will be pushing hard in practice.”

Jay Parnell instigated a 13-0 run as North led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, only for Aylesbury to reduce the deficit to three points in the second, following successive three-pointers. Adam Wernham and Potts combined again with another 13 unanswered points to put the Lions 36-20 ahead at half-time.

Aylesbury rallied again, cutting the lead to eight points (46-38) during the third quarter, before Potts scored the last six points to open up a 52-38 lead.

Skipper Ross Bampton led from the front, stifling Aylesbury’s attempts at a comeback in the fourth quarter before Potts claimed the final basket to see North through.

North’s Adam Wernham in action from the free-throw line