On Monday the 17th August all of the Year 6’s went to hoop time. We were all so excited and we were getting ready to leave. We each got given blue guernseys with numbers on the back. My number was 34. Then we all hopped on the bus and drove to the State Basketball Centre. When we got there we all put our basketball shoes on and had a little practice.

I was in the All Stars team with nine other kids. Our team then went to the court and faced our very first team, Mulgrave. When we saw their team we were all a little bit scared because they had a giant on their team. The game started and it was close all game. In the last couple of minutes it was tied, then we scored. There were fifty seconds left and Mulgrave had the ball, then they gave it to the giant. He then shot it but luckily he missed so we had won our first game of the day. I think something we did well in that game was locking down that giant!

We had a little snack break then we headed to our next game against St Justin’s. We had a really good start and we broke away with a big lead. At halftime we were up, 12-0. The rest of the game was really good and we had won our second game, only letting them score a single point in the end. I was really happy because we had won two out of four games which meant we only had to win one more to make it into finals. I think something that we did well in that game is keeping cool when the ref wasn't making calls our way.

We then had some lunch and played our next game against Brandon Park. We also played a really strong game from the start. We were on a lot of fouls that game but that didn't stop our hunger and hustle for the ball. We played such a good game and our hard work had paid off because now we were guaranteed a final spot. Something we did well in that game was not getting too over confident even though we were winning.

Our last game before finals was a tough one, St Leonards. We were a little bit nervous, not because we weren't going to get into the final, but it was because who we were going to verse in the final. If we lost we would've had to verse St Leonard’s in the final but if we won we would've had to verse Mulgrave in the final. The game started and it was really close all game. In the last ten seconds we were losing by one point. Then one of my teammates got a free throw in. It was all tied up with five seconds left, then we got the intercept, passed it off and my teammate scored a buzzerbeater. The whole stadium erupted and everyone crowded on the court. Something we did well in that game was not giving up even when we were losing.

So we ended up meeting Mulgrave again, in the grand final. We were feeling all sorts of emotions and we were getting ready for the big game. The game started and it was very close all game, just like when we versed them earlier on. It was all tied up in the six minute mark. I subbed on then our team got a nine point break away including a three pointer. The crowd went wild and everyone was cheery until the end. We held our lead, didn't let them score and stayed strong to win the grand final. As soon as the buzzer went everyone from our school ran onto the court with lots of excitement. Something that we did well that game was teamwork and passing the ball to get goals.

After the game we were so proud of ourselves and we couldn't believe that we had just made it into the next stage, division. The team each got a medal each and then we took a team photo. We were all so excited for division, we then packed up and left after a big fun day.

Lucas

6NB

On Monday, the 18th of August 2026, the year six students of Good Shepherd Primary School went to State Basketball Stadium to have a basketball interschool sport event against other schools within our district. When we arrived at the venue we brought our bags into the stadium and plopped them down on some spectator chairs since the seats weren´t occupied by anyone. The people who brought indoor basketball shoes in their bags took them out and put them on their feet as the other kids warmed up and shot around before the event officially started. After the teachers reminded us of our teams we gathered up with our teammates and coaches to discuss our line ups for the game. Even though our first game as Allstars was at 10:20 and against Mulgrave Primary School, we still gathered up as a team to cheer for our Future Star team at 10:00. They played really well against the opposing team, but unfortunately they lost against them when the siren blew off. Finally, it was our turn to bring on our fury as a team and we gave our all against the team Mulgrave, who also had a kid who was so tall that I was scared that he would hit his head against the bottom of the backboard if he jumped. The whistle blew and everyone scattered around like headless chickens. After the final whistle blew, we ended with a two-point win against the opposing team. We had a short break for around 20 minutes until our next game, Saint Justin's. When the game started, once again, we scattered around the court like headless chickens. We played very well on the court with each shot and passed with perfect precision. After the game, we secured our second win of the day and put us higher up in the ladder. Again, we had a 20 minute break, but this time we had to play against a higher level team, Brandon Park. This time, I ate for three minutes and went back to court eight to have my game. The referee blew his whistle and we were off to start our third game. Their best player was very agile and fast, but we got the job done because our teamwork as a team out beats any team in the competition. When I realised that we were playing against Saint Leonard’s, my heart jumped. Saint Leonard's contained many skilled players, better than we’ve played in this whole tournament. There were many representative level players in that team so I was confident that it was going to be a very entertaining and teeth-rattling match. In the last thirty seconds, we were down by two. I got fouled in the last 15 seconds of the game and I got to shoot two free throws which were vital for winning. I breathed a long breath and I released the ball from my fingertips. It sank through the net and everyone cheered loudly. Second one. I missed it. Thump! Everyone scattered into the key including me, but luckily Josh, my teammate, grabbed the ball off the rebound and got pushed in the back. Two free throws. Again. The crowd went silent and the ball bricked twice. The opposing team bitterly mocked the misses. But once again, we got the rebound by Sacheth and he got fouled for the third time in a row. At the free throw line. Again. My legs were shivering like I was in an ice cold bath. He missed the first one. Thump! One more and the ball went in, hitting the back of the rim and bouncing in. The opposing team grabbed the ball and stepped out of the court to pass in the ball. The player that I remember from the game I played a week ago received the receiving ball and chucked it up the court but was intercepted by the sneaky player Sacheth and threw the ball at me. I didn't know what to do. My mind said ¨Shoot¨ but my body said ¨NO¨. 3! 2! 1! The ball left my hand at two seconds. From then on, everything seemed to be slow motion. SPLASH! The ball went in and the crowd erupted. Everyone sprinted at me like caffeined squirrels and they picked me up on my legs and bumped me around wildly. Even though we were celebrating, a surging pain kicked into my left heel and I knew it was going to affect my finals game in 20 minutes. Finally, the finals were here. We worked together as a team but my heel was piercing me like a spear. I could not run at all. It felt like 10 minutes but it already was the last minute. We were playing against Mulgrave, the first team we played, the team with the big man, the team that had trouble at the start. We stalled as much as we could and Lucas pulled up from the three point line. He let the ball fly and it splashed into the net. BOOM! The crowd roared as Lucas celebrated. In the end, we took home the championship and everyone from Good Shepherd crowded us, the allstars. Mister Mondon gave us our medals and just like that, Hoop Time had come to an end.

Skyler

6EL

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