Bampton plays leading role

Basketball

Skipper Ross Bampton produced a personal tally of 22 points as North School Varsity Lions reached the last four of the Dynamik under-19 Schools Basketball Championships with a 77-55 win over twotime champions Devonbased Churston Ferrers Grammar.

Bampton’s haul included six rebounds, eight assists and three steals, winning him the Most Valuable Player award.

Coach Andrew Sunderland said: “Making the semi-finals is an outstanding achievement and we have more to give.

“Ross was the difference on the day, composed, selfless and showing that he was made for the big stage.”

Churston scored the first six points of the game, before Bampton and Jay Parnell got to work, scoring 19 first-quarter points to earn North a 22-17 lead.

The teams were only separated by two points at the end of the second and third, before Kai Potts shrugged off illness to make the difference in the fourth quarter, scoring six points and two assists in only two minutes on court.

Bampton then marshalled his team home with a 19-2 run-in the closing stages, earning North a semi-final spot and a trip to Greig City Academy in Hornsey, North London.