Kentish Express Ashford & District
North’s future in safe hands
Basketball
Coach Andrew Sunderland has hailed North School Varsity’s season as unbelievable.
A first-ever place in the semi-finals of the Dynamik National Schools under-19 Championships, where North School were beaten 87-67 by northLondon based Greig City Academy, was the highlight.
The campaign also included a recordbreaking 31 wins, as well as a sixth successive East Kent League title.
After a 65-game undefeated run in their sixth and last year in the competition, they will now move on to new challenges in the 2017-18 season.
Preparations have already begun with 10 of the 12 players retained.
Sunderland said: “It was an unbelievable year. The maturity, experience and physicality of the ones staying in the squad will be invaluable going into next season but for now, we just need to focus on attaining outstanding academic results.”
Elsewhere, the under-14s were in dominant form as they won the Satellite Tournament at University of Kent in Canterbury.
The young Lions emerged undefeated, winning all five matches to win gold in the competition, organised by Kent Sport.
Skippered by Conal Parnell, they beat Robert Napier School from Gillingham 18-8, Northfleet Technology College 24-12, two Sittingbourne schools – Borden Grammar 20-4 and Westlands 26-2 – then Brockhill Park 24-2
Sunderland added: “This was a fantastic opportunity to put out our next generation of players in a competitive tournament situation and they responded with outstanding skill, discipline and maturity
“Diogo Araujo Simoes was outstanding in every game and his ball handling, defence and scoring ability make him an exciting prospect. The future is in good hands.”
The Lady Lions under-16s maintained the winning habit, with victory in the Ashford and Shepway Finals.
An undefeated regular season earned them the No.1 seeding, beating Folkestone School for Girls 28-19.
Guard Becky Stagg produced an outstanding performance in offence and defence as North won the opening quarter 14-0 before Folkestone reduced the deficit to 18-8 at the end of the second.
Strong inside play by forward Lauren Edenborough helped North open up a 26-8 advantage moving into the last.
Folkestone came back strongly again with an 11-0 run, before Phoebe Wood showed great composure under pressure to score the final basket of the game.
They beat Brockhill Park 24-19 in the semi-finals.
Head coach Sam Sauriol said: “I am so proud of these girls and their efforts throughout the season.”