Open Girls Basketball
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The Open Girls Basketball team travelled to Shoalhaven earlier this term to compete in the NSW CHS Southern Finals. Where previously the top 20 teams from the state played off in single games in a knockout format, a new structure this year grouped the top two from each zone into qualifying tournaments to see who would progress to the State Finals.
This meant a road trip, which started early Sunday afternoon after some of our girls played (and won) the Western Junior League U16s final in Griffith. By the time we got to Picton it was dark and raining, which made for a slightly stressful drive down the mountain into Wollongong, but we reached our accommodation safely and managed to get an early night.
We were up early the next morning to head further south to the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre for our pool games.
The girls’ first game was against Karabar High School from Queanbeyan. It was a fairly even start and we trailed by just five points at the first break. Karabar found their rhythm in the second quarter though, and pulled away. The girls came storming home with a 23 point final quarter but it wasn’t enough as Karabar held on for the win.
After a short break the girls played Endeavour Sports High. Endeavour got out to a comfortable lead but the NHS girls fought back to be within striking distance late in the third quarter. However, a high accuracy shooting display for Endeavour to finish the game gave them the win. It’s hard to beat a team who can’t miss!
Congratulations to all the girls: Charlie Brooker, Jaida-Lee Lyons, Samantha Kerr, Skye Hutchison, Zoe Hutchison, Hannah McDonald, Ella Richens, Bellah Longford and Mackenzie Brooker.
Special mention to Year 12 students Zoe, Mackenzie and Tahlia Gilbert who have now played their last basketball game for NHS – thanks girls, you have been awesome!