THE TARANAKIAN
THE TARANAKIAN of champion teams. Several games were lost by very narrow margins and the team was unlucky not to make the final. Three losses, including the semi-final, were against the Opunake team which dominated the league but on each occasion our boys drew generous praise from the opposition. No school is likely to enjoy such success against this team in the future. Tournament play began in April with the Western Heights Invitation Tournament where we returned as beaten finalists from 2002. This year we were dominant in every game and relished the experience of demolishing defending champions St Pat's (Town) 48-20 in the Final. Our second team also gained valuable experience at this tournament as part of the programme now in place to ensure ongoing success for NPBHS basketball.
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Another mark of a champion team is its ability to rise to the occasion and perform in championship games. The Taranaki Junior Secondary Championship provided further evidence of the mental toughness and character of the team as a hapless Hawera was well beaten in the final 50-14. The significance of our performance lay in the fact that the opposition only managed to score 2 points in the entire second half.
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The most challenging tournament was always going to be the Zonal U16 Tournament in Hutt Valley. Having had seven players in the New Plymouth team that won the Representative tournament in the same zone, expectations were high and the normally reserved coach boldly talked up our chances in the newspaper. This move might have added to the pressure but such was the confidence in our squad that the comments fuelled our motivation to succeed. Twelve players were selected for the tournament and Mr Bayly travelled as manager with Mrs Annette Corbett in support.
1st V BASKETBALL 4th in Central Zone Tournament • 14th in the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Championships Back Row Middle Row: Front Row:
Gabriel Davies, Tim Harford, Corey Makatoa Mr T Heaps (Manager), Tuo Zou, David Mcintyre, Jermaine Sassman, Mr J Cleaver (Coach) Blair Prescott, Ryan Koorts, Te Hira Cooper (Captain), Jacob Lineham, Peter Campbell, Adam Harford
Honoun
U16 Ba~ketball2oo3
The follow ing players were awarded Tiger Coats this year : Blair Prescott, Tim Harford and Adam Harford. The award for the Most Improved Player in the 1st V (Peter Lay Trophy) was awarded to Corey Makatoa.
The measure of the groundwork carried out in 2002 would rest with the results achieved in 2003, where w inning replaced development as the focus for the junior programme.
Provincial Repre~entation Taranaki Under 18 :
Jermaine Sassman, Gabriel Davies, Ryan Koorts
This season has been very successful, given the fact that we had another hurdle to overcome to qualify for the NZSS. The major contributor to this success was the effort and commitment of the team, together w ith coaching skills of Mr Jeff Cleaver. We have been very lucky indeed to secure the services of Mr Cleaver on the departure of Colin Driscoll. We thank him for his time and expertise in building up a team that is not just successful locally, but nationally as well . We look forward to a long association w ith him. Thanks to everyone w ho supported us this year. Terry Heaps - Manager, 1st V Basketball Team
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QoTALLY
The squad comprised 16 players who played as two teams in a new 'premier' grade in the New Plymouth junior competition. Here NPBHS was completely dominant, each team w inning every game comfortably except when the two teams played each other, w here the results were shared evenly. In a hotly contested Championship final the 'White' team prevailed over the 'Gold' in retaliation for Gold winning the League on points differential. This competition was vitally important for us in that it allowed ten players to 'start' and everyone on the squad the opportunity to play in a full length game every week. The work of Mr Jeff Cleaver and Mr Adrian Taylor who coached the Gold team was much appreciated by all. Each week ten players were selected to compete in the Taranaki Secondary Schools League which comprised most of the first teams in Taranaki and NPBHS and Francis Douglas second teams. This league proved very challenging for our young boys but their performances always exhibited the determination and resiliency that are the mark
• • • Thh page has been kindly sponsored by TOTALLY fOOD • • • • 68.
Our zone extends from Napier across to New Plymouth and down to Wellington and our draw was certainly not favourable. We met St Pat's (Town), Otaki and the fancied St Pat's (Silverstream) in pool play and beat Porirua 53-48 in a tight quarter-final. The Otaki game was significant for the outstanding 2nd half display by our bench players who were entirely responsible for the 30 point w inning margin. By the time we played Wellington College in the semi-final we had acquired a reputation for being the 'power' team at the tournament. This was due in no small part to the size of our boys, with five measuring 6 foot or more and our 6'4, 6'5 and 6'6 boys standing like giants in the key. Wellington had to attack us early w ith speed and full court pressure which they did to the extent that we found ourselves in a deep hole, down 23-6 late in the 1st quarter. However words like 'choke' and 'panic' are unknown in our vocabulary and the boys again demonstrated their character, steadily closing the deficit with quality play and moving ahead during the 3'd quarter. The inevitable victory was as comprehensive as the 71-56 score line suggests and again the boys had a chance to win a championship game.
Jason Naumann lays up a shot Photo courtesy of The Daily News
2003 Reml~:
Taita College was the host team and went into the final with strong support and plenty of talent and confidence. Early foul trouble ultimately prevented us from pulling away but such was the depth of our bench and the dedication to our game plan the result was never in doubt despite the relative closeness of the result, 51-43. Matthew Corbett (MVP) and Kyle Manu were duly selected to the tournament team.
New Plymouth U16 League* Tournaments • Taranaki S.S.B.L. Other Total
2003 was a successful season in every way. The boys have grown as individuals (literally) and as a team. Every setback has provided a positive learning experience, and every success has been achieved as a result of teamwork and commitment from the whole squad. The support of the parents has been outstanding and the character and integrity of the boys exceptional. In my opinion this squad has the physical and mental ability to become the top secondary school team in New Zealand. Yet to be determined is whether they have the desire and dedication to do so.
Played
Won
Lost
15 18 13 2 48
15 18
0 0
7 2
6
42
6
0
* each team, against other schools Win/ Loss : 88%
lain McGowan • 69.
Repre1entative Playm: New Plymouth U16:
Tim Cleaver, Matthew Corbett, Tim Doyle, Kyle Manu, Jason Naumann, Jason Rolfe, Michael Taylor, Josiah Wall (res )
New Plymouth U18:
Yu Ishikawa