This year’s Senior Basketball Final was very much St. Ninian's’ game to lose. Unbeaten throughout the season and returning as last year’s champions, the Saints came in as clear favourites, but QEII were never going to make it easy.
The opening quarter showed signs of nerves from both sides. QEII set the tone early with some solid, high-pressure defence that immediately put the Saints’ shooting under strain. The first quarter remained tightly contested, going point for point. Brandon was outstanding for St. Ninian's during this period, stepping up with crucial buckets to keep the Saints ticking over. At the other end, Raf’s high-intensity defence applied pressure back onto QEII and helped prevent them from building any early momentum.
Heading into the second quarter, St. Ninian's knew improvements were needed, particularly boxing out and securing both offensive and defensive rebounds. QEII continued to apply relentless pressure, using effective defensive set plays to make it difficult for the Saints to bring the ball down the court. Despite this, some timely three-pointers from Rowan settled the Saints, allowing them to find their rhythm and edge ahead before halftime.
The second half saw a tactical shift from St. Ninian's as they dropped back into a zone defence. Oliver controlled the movement superbly, directing play, creating trapping opportunities, and making some vital steals that disrupted QEII’s flow and led to key scoring chances.
In the final quarter, the Saints’ basketball IQ and game awareness truly came into play. They took full control of the contest, moving the ball well and capitalising on QEII’s mistakes as they began to pull away. John’s shooting proved crucial in extending the lead, while Sam dominated the boards with some excellent defensive rebounds. Jack’s intelligent ball movement tied everything together, ensuring the Saints remained composed and clinical until the final buzzer.
A massive congratulations must go to the three Year 13 players: Jack Wilkinson (Captain), Kyle Furlong, and Sam Williams, who played their final game for the school. They leave St. Ninian's having never lost a Senior School Basketball Final, an outstanding achievement and a fitting end to their school basketball careers.
A deserved victory for the Saints, sealing another championship in style.