Annual: Trinity 2014

Basketball Mr Andrew Osnain Head of Basketball 1st V Basketball Coach The 2013-14 season proved to be a very successful season for Trinity basketball. A renewed sense of dedication to fundamentals and playing the game according to the true TC Spirit has helped transform a number of results from the previous season, culminating in the Blackwood Cup returning to Trinity College in 2014.

Term 4 results for all teams indicated that development had taken place over the course of the season, and Term 4 was going to be the launching pad that propelled Trinity to success in Term 1 2014. Credit must be afforded to the students for wholeheartedly embracing the various changes, and in particular, the coaches who had previously participated in a pre-season skills development program, designed at strengthening the knowledge and skill base that the players require in order to reach their potential on the court.

Ideally, the Middle School teams would be able to train indoors for two sessions a week. However, with resources scarce and the new gym a few years away it is a blessing in disguise that our boys braved the outdoor courts to hone their skills in tougher conditions, which provided them with a competitive and mental edge when the game is close and the toughness of players is called into question.

Trinity men are born from these days of challenging training sessions, and I am sure previous Blackwood Cup victories come from such days on our beloved outdoor courts.

The 1st V season began during the Term 3 holidays of 2013.

With a number of students returning from the previous Blackwood Cup season, there was stability within the squad and a belief that reaching their potential was enough to win back the Blackwood Cup. During the Shortland-Jones Term 4 Competition the 1st V lost a number of games; however, were steadfast in the belief that on ‘our’ day the boys could beat any team with our best effort. Over the Christmas holidays a number of the 1st V players travelled to the USA on the Trinity basketball tour and learned valuable lessons that reiterated the importance of being fundamental and resolute in their pursuit for success. This was to filter through to the entire squad.

From the January camp it was obvious this team was driven to succeed. The student leaders were driving the training sessions with no compromises on the basic fundamentals, as well as fostering the belief that the most important player on the team was their teammate.

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