Dawin High Team 1st Runners Up at International High School Basketball Championship
Darwin High School has returned from the 5th International High Schools and Clubs Basketball Championship held in Kulum Malaysia as runners up.
By teacher and Coach, Steve McGugan
Twelve teams from six countries contested this year’s tournament initially in three pools of 4 and then to two pools of 3 each for the Championship and Plate divisions.
While Darwin progressed through their pools with comfortable victories all games were played with pressure defences throughout and final scores were more a reflection of Darwin HS ability than lack of game contest. The starting group of Kayden Malseed, Will Burton, Zeb Hantelmann, Luca Tutty and captain James Toohey confidently handled all presses and ran great changing team defences to give leads that were then built by Jericho Cruz, Tyler Fanning, Logan Law and Lucas Duncan.
The character of the team was challenged in what was effectively the semi-final game against PYD Philippines when the Filo team jump to a lead in the first quarter and continued with full court relentless pressure throughout. Darwin HS steadied and had a slight lead at the half to then push on to a 13 point victory and a position in the final.
In the final, Crossover, a combined team from Toronto, Canada, were favourites and jumped to an early lead. Darwin HS again showed their character in closing the gap and were still in the game till 8 minutes 30 seconds in the final quarter. A turn over pushed the score out to a gap of 7 and fouling in an effort to get the ball backed from missed foul shots resulted in a 79-68 victory to Crossover.
Kayden Malseed from the DHS team was awarded a trophy for the highest point scorer at the championship, the school receives a trophy for 1st runner up and all players were presented a silver medal.
Coach Steve McGugan praised the total experience saying the quality of the games were sensational for each players development but more importantly the cultural and personal exchanges will be fond life time memories.
Games scores:
DHS 87 def. IPH Indonesia 36;
DHS 107 def. Supersports, KL, Malaysia 43;
DHS 100 def. SKCRC Kadah, Malaysia 36
DHS 96 def. PHS Singapore 55.
DHS 96 def. PYD Philippines 83
Crossover Canada 79 def. DHS 68