BASKETBALL
The team note and thank Jamey Kerr and Jeremy Coley for their efforts at this time as well as coaches Matiu Julian and Colin Driscoll. New players were drafted in and a fresh goal of success in the large Zone Regional Competition was set. In the first week of the August holidays we began the competition by playing on day one Porirua College winning 125-30 and Awatapu College winning 117-37. On day two we played Wanganui Boys' College and restored pride with a victory 94-49. We then played the first cross-overs and beat a committed Upper Hutt College 57-48. Day three saw us beat Wellington High School in the first semifinal96-39. In the final we fought off a very considerable challenge from Francis Douglas College to win 69-58. The team got three players in the tournament team - Thomas Henderson, Jamey Kerr and Matthew Laurenson with Matthew Laurenson being named MVP of the tournament. The team wish to thank their coaches for their efforts and wish to thank the players who will be leaving school at the end of the year. The players who are returning have reset the goal of 1993. We aim to play in the Nationals in 1994. J. B. LAURENSON, Manager.
JUNIOR BASKETBALL This has been a successful year in that we fielded 14 teams in the Junior League and every team had at least one coach. The standard of skill continues to rise and we were able to enter a team composed of able third and fourth form students in the Under 16 A grade where they finished fourth. A new grade was introduced this year for Under 18 players and this was very popular and we fielded three teams in this grade. The Aztecs - Under 16 B grade team were the only team to win their grade and congratulations must be extended to them for this effort. I would like to thank the coaches and parents who so willingly gave their time so many basketballers could enjoy their sport. I would also like to thank the players for the positive way they participated in their games and the way so many were prepared to help with refereeing and score board duties.
NPBHS A BASKETBALL Back Row, left to right: Jamey Kerr, Tony Rampton, Damon Green. Middle Row: Matiu Julian (Coach), Matthew Laurenson, Ryan Crofskey, Andy Kinsella, Colin Driscoll (Coach). Front Row: Roddy Struthers, Thomas Henderson, Jeremy Coley (Captain), Nicky Taylor, Jason Fearne.
1ST V BASKETBALL In 1992 serious consideration gave rise to the realisation that the team in 1993 would be one of great potential, fully able to go all the way to the top. It was obvious that the team would be young and much thought would have to be given on how such a team could come to believe in themselves and realise their potential. As with many things some goals were achieved and some were not. The initial grading games in the Taranaki Premier Division Basketball Competition went very well. Non-basketballers should note that this competition features members of the BP Bears and it is not uncommon for the school 1st V to be playing men of national league calibre and in some cases men with recognised ability in the American playing circuit. School finished in 4th position in this competition. A truly meritorious effort with the best game of the season being a win over Aces (a team solidly stacked with current BP Bears players) who went on late in the season to play in the competition finals. As the season progressed, however, it became apparent that the local schools were not able to stretch us sufficiently to enable us to reach our potential. We comfortably won the Taranaki Competition beating Inglewood, Opunake, Francis Douglas Memorial College, Spotswood, Okato and Stratford.
Bearing this in mind we elected to play Palmerston North Boys' High School (later on second in New Zealand Nationals) losing 5869 and Church College (later on first in New Zealand Nationals) losing 73-87. Both losses gave us the confidence that we were on track. At this stage our luck ran out. Injuries to key players hindered our development. Jeremy Co!ey -captain, Andy Kinsella and Jamey Kerr all members oft he start1ng V suffered injuries at critical times. Then the cruellest blow of all, our star player Tony Rampton 6'7' and a member of the New Zealand Under 18 team decided to go after Regionals, to the USA to further his basketball career. It was a troubled team that journeyed to Wanganui to contest the Regional competition. Our misfortune continued with the draw of Queen Elizabeth College for our first game. QEII were determined to progress to Nationals and used spoiling aggressive tactics to throw a young team off its game. We were narrowly beaten by a more unscrupulous opponent. Although we went on to beat Inglewood and Horowhenua, we lost the fourth game to PNBHS and so lost our chances to go on to the Nationals. In the play-off for 3rd and 4th we lost to Wanganui Boys' College. The low point of the season had been reached. Commendably though, the players and coach stuck to their task and the younger players were pulled through.
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competitio_n is. divided .into two events, surfboarding and bodyboard1~g :-v1th approximately equal entries in the two sections. In the preliminary round, four-man heats of 20 minutes duration were held with _the fir~t _and second placegetters qualifying for round two. In d1sappo1nt1ng .5-1.0m surf, competition was keen and the standard of surfing was high. At the conclusion of the day 14 qualifiers for the board riding and 12 for the bodyboarding had been finalised. Aft~_r nine days of n~arflat con~itions with daily assembling of the qualifiers and mount1ng frustration the swell arrived on February 25 and round two began in conditions which produced a one metre swell which increased to 1.5-2.0, by the end of the event. This led to some highly skilful and entertaining surfing in both sections. In the board riding event last year's performers Joe Fraser and Moses Kemp were joined by Brent Hutchieson a newcomer to the school, with the eventual results being: Brent Hutchieson 1st Joe Fraser 2nd, Jamie Kerr 3rd, James Thomas 4th, Simon McC~IIum 5th, Brett Sands 6th. Unfortunately Moses Kemp was unavailable for the final. The bodyboarding event, saw favourite Greg Roebuck (a member of last year's New Zealand Surfing team) being pushed hard by Paul Busing, Damon Green and promising junior Peter Kingsnorth. Greg prevailed to take 1st place, however and results were: Greg Roebuuck 1st, Paul Busing 2nd, Damon Green 3rd, Peter Kingsnorth 4th, Nic Cooper 5th, Cameron Clow 6th. The school team to represent the school at the Taranaki Intersecondary School Surfing Championships on March 1 was selected with the following being successful: Board riding, under 18: Brent Hutchieson, Joe Fraser (Captain), Jamie Kerr, james Thomas (Reserve). Under 16: Moses Kemp, Brett Sands, Simon McCallum, Daniel Lander (Reserve). Bodyboarders: Greg Roebuck, Paul Busing, Damon Green (Reserve). On March 1 the school team, along with eight other Taranaki teams, assembled at Paritutu's 'Back Beach' for the Taranaki Inter-secondary School Surfing Championships. Conditions were ideal wih light winds and one metre swell. From the beginning of heat one it became obvious that the competition was going to be fierce and the standard of surfing extremely high. As the day progressed Francis Douglas College, Spotswood College, Waitara and New PlyJnouth Boys' High School emerged as the teams to beat. The final outcome saw the New Plymouth Boys' High School as comfortable winners ahead of Waitara, last year's champions. Results were: New Plymouth Boys' High School, 1st, 60 points; Waitara High School, 2nd, 47 points; Francis Douglas, 3rd, 44 points. The school also performed well in the individual placings with: Brent Hutchieson, 1st in the Under 18; Moses Kemp, 1st in the Under 16; Greg Roebuck, 1st in the bodyboarding; Paul Busing, 2nd in the bodyboarding. Thus the day produced a very favourable outcome for the school. Selected for the Taranaki/Wanganui Scholastic team to contest the Nationals in New Plymouth were: Brent Hutchieson, Moses Kemp, Greg Roebuck, Paul Busing. In the National Scholastic competition the Taranaki/Wanganui team performed well to take 2nd place beh ind winners from the Gisborne district. Brent Hutchieson gained 3rd place in the Under 18 section of the New Zealand Scholastic Championships and was selected to represent New Zealand in the World Scholastic Surfing Championships held in Bali in June/July. Greg Roebuck was placed 1st in the bodyboard section. This is a reco rd of three wins in successive years. Paul Busing was placed 2nd . Over Easter Greg competed in the finals of the New Zealand bodyboarding championships. New Zealand's 1993 Bodyboarding Champion, Greg's efforts are unlikely to be matched in the foreseeable future. In Bali, Brent was a finalist gaining 7th place in the World Champs. Greg Roebuck is a trialist for the New Zealand team to the 1994 World Champs and was selected to represent New Zealand at an international contest in Sydney later this year.
SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
On February 16, 1993, 60 competitors assembled at Fitzroy Beach for the first round of the school Surfing Championships. The Page 53