Basketball | CAS Round 5 versus Knox
“The Firsts get back to playing tough ball, just getting pipped by CAS leaders.”
1st V
Trinity’s grit and relentless in-your-face defence was back as the Firsts almost pulled off an upset at Knox in a hard fought 15-point loss that was in the balance with only three minutes remaining in the final quarter. The Greens came out with a purpose and focus to start well, and with some adjustments to the starting group this was achieved, holding Knox to just 11 points in the opening period and taking the lead at first break (13-11). Liam Isaako (10WJ) played his best game of the season, grabbing rebounds, picking up steals and a huge dunk giving Trinity the presence in the middle that has been missing. Henry Mansfield (10Ke) backed up last week’s solid performance with another strong showing, giving the Greens energy and relentless hustle. Ollie Smith (11Ar) gave Trinity spark off the bench with his rebounding and willingness to attack the basket. Jesse Edwards (10WH) gave the Greens a good start to the second period, scoring three consecutive baskets, while Miles Buvac (9WJ) hit a triple to see Trinity take the lead. Ethan Marten-Coney (9Ho), Bailey Macarthur (9WJ) and Jed Moor (10WJ) picked up some key baskets just before half-time as Trinity were taking the fight right up to Knox just down a point (30-31).
Trinity’s tough defence continued holding Knox to just nine points for the quarter as Ollie Orr (10Ho) showed good touch as Trinity were playing with confidence only down a single point (39-40) heading into the final period. Ollie Smith and Jesse Edwards had the Greens looking to take the lead, before Knox made another little run to take a 5-point lead. The Greens showed great resilience to again fight back, and Liam Isaako’s strong drive and finish had Trinity smelling upset, only down one point with four minutes remaining. Unfortunately fatigue and poor passes allowed Knox to take the momentum back and pull away in the final two minutes. It was a big step in the right direction for the Firsts who were back playing the gritty, relentless basketball that Trinity is known for and with three home games in the second round Trinity can play a big factor in the overall placing in this wide-open CAS competition.
Click here for 1st V CAS Round 5 Highlights vs Knox
Leading Statistics
Jesse Edwards – 18 pts. 6 rebs.
Liam Isaako – 7 pts. 6 rebs.
Ollie Smith – 6 pts. 9 rebs.
2nd V
Coming off a disappointing loss against Waverley, the Seconds were ready to bounce back and finish the first round off with a win and second spot on the ladder. The first quarter saw Trinity execute on the offensive end with Peter Tanesvki (10WH) hitting some perimeter shots which included a big ‘3’. Knox crawled their way back in the second period to see Trinity’s lead evaporate only up two points (22-20) at the main break.
An emphasis was made to get out in transition and knuckle down defensively. This was evident in the third quarter, holding Knox to just five points. Sami Nasr (11Mu) was given a tough defensive assignment in which he performed perfectly throughout the game as well, owning the boards. This allowed for Trinity to fend off any last period heroics from Knox and get a huge 9-point win up north. It was a true captain’s performance by Sam Payne (11WJ), scoring 22 points and anchoring the team on the defensive end. Special mention must go to Jamison Urch (10WH) showing us again his instant impact off the bench, creating opportunities for his teammates and himself on the offensive end.
Click here for 2nd V CAS Round 5 Highlights vs Knox
Leading Scorers
Sam Payne – 22 pts. 4 rebs. 4 stls.
Peter Tanevski – 7 pts.
Sami Nasr – 9 rebs.
3rd V
It proved a tough day for Trinity, but the boys showed great resilience to stay close to a fired-up Knox right down to the final minutes. Paris Karakikes (11Hi) continued to dominate the scoring with 23 points off the back of Trinity’s well-structured defence. Both teams went at each other blow for blow in an exciting game, but Trinity just could get the momentum at crucial moments. Lachlan Chung (11Ho) was relentless at both ends of the court and Sam Niulala (11St) added much needed determination in keeping Knox out of the quay area. The Thirds will have three of five games at home next term and with a very good 4-1 record on the turn the boys are well placed.
4th V
Although the game appeared evenly matched by the end in the Fourths’ 4-point loss, Trinity allowed Knox to run away with it in the opening ten minutes of the game being 14-2 down. Trinity then was able to match the scoring throughout the rest of the game and only close the gap in the last two minutes. After a time-out and some tough words from coach Daniels about the Greens’ defence, Trinity were rewarded with a steal and a 10-point swing. Ryan Geddes (11Mu) combined with Brendan Geddes (10Mu) and Peter Georgelos (11WH) to close the gap in a nail-biter at the very end. Felix Hindle’s (10WJ) athleticism around the basket is proving a key factor at both ends of the court. It been a great start by Trinity finishing the first round with an impressive 4-1 record.
5th V
A nail-biting finish saw the Fifths come away with a huge and tense 2-point road win. The game was filled with runs from both sides with Trinity coming out on top through their relentless effort on the defensive end. Joel Maher (11Ta) and Cody Lambert (11He) were instrumental to this win. They worked tirelessly on the defensive end and were rewarded by scoring off these defensive efforts.
6th V
It was a dazzling start for the Greens as they pounced to an early lead. Ryan De Dominicis (11Fo) was superb throughout the entire game as he orchestrated countless scoring chances for teammates and himself, as well providing a strong defensive presence. Despite such a start Trinity led at halftime by only three points and had a few players in foul trouble. Lawrence Hoe (10Yo) started the second half strongly, providing several steals and pushing the ball in transition for a few layups for Trinity to gain momentum. However, as Knox began to creep back into the game, Cameron Van Der Goot (10We) emerged; his high work rate defensively was evident with some big rebounds as well as a few plays in which he “walled up” against the opposition inside the key, preventing them from scoring. With the boys holding a slim lead with less than five minutes to play, Emile Harb (11Sc) “banked” two big three pointers to secure the Sixths a a 9-point victory and an undefeated start (5-0) to the season.
7th V
In the last game of round one the Sevenths travelled to Knox for the toughest fixture on the calendar. In what was a frantic final few minutes which saw Knox produce a strong comeback, Trinity held on to record a memorable 2-point victory. Trinity was led by the ferocious rebounding of Liam Wingrave (11Ar) and the hustle of Oscar Parsons (10Ta) and Andrew Yang (11Hi), which laid a strong platform for the free scoring of Beier Chen (11Yo) and Hugo Van Hal (10Mu) to carry the team to victory. The win puts the Greens with a 4-1 record and in a good position heading into round 2.
9th V
The Ninths showed excellent teamwork once again playing Knox away from home, which is always a tough game. Charlie Naffah (11Du) was on fire in the opening minutes, nailing two big 3-pointers and leading the charge with Jack Athanassiou (10Ar) and Max Anderson (10Hi) also putting in strong performances, once again in offence. A flurry of eight points in two minutes from Knox in the second half put the 9ths on the back foot. Trailing the game in the final few minutes, a contested 3-pointer from Emmanuel Rizkalla (11Sc) had Trinity back in the game and it was unlucky not be an ‘and 1’, as he was taken down after the shot. The boys showed great spirit and were so close to getting the job down in their tough 4-point loss.
11th V
The Elevenths came to Knox with a ‘can-do’ attitude looking to cause an upset against the Blue and Black. William Tran (10Ho) came out with great intensity, putting up early baskets off some quick fast breaks. Matthew Nicholas (10WJ) was going to work in the paint, dominating the offensive boards and put backs. All in all, Trinity came close, but Knox was able to hold on in an evenly matched game.
Year 10B
Trinity finished the season strong with a nail-biting 2-point victory. The 10Bs started off slow, being down by double-digits in the first eight minutes, but the rebounding and defence of Jarden Kong (La) stopped the Knox run, and at the end of the first half the Greens were down 11 points. Liam Wu (Sc) used his defensive instincts to pressure the Knox offence which he generated into fastbreak opportunities helping Trinity get back into the game. But it was John Markos (Hi) who took over the game by scoring ten points in the second half to help Trinity take the lead for the first time, with just over a minute remaining. Overall, it was a great win for the 10Bs demonstrating resilience and a ‘never say die’ attitude.
Year 10D
Going into their last game of the year, the 10Ds came out to a strong start. Through some impressive defensive stops as a team, led by Sam Giminez-McAlpine (Ke) and Asher Chaudhary (La), Trinity jumped out to an early lead at half. Carrying their momentum into the second half, Darren Ho (WH) proved to be too dominant on the offensive end. A great win to end the first half of the season on a high.
Year 10E
The 10Es only just lost against Knox, finishing up down by a single point after a super exciting final few seconds. Jonathan Ly (Sc) and Harry Vine (Mu) controlled and defended the ball all game with style. Kiran Siva (Ke) and Travis Ng (WJ) provided much needed height and speed and skill. Kenneth Rathore (He) supported all his teammates and attacked the basket when needed. Isaac Abdennour (He) and Lucas Michael (Ke) came up from the 10Fs to sub in at crucial times in support.
Year 10G
With the final game for the term, Trinity were primed to finish the first round on a winning note. The boys started off well with strong defensive plays and stops, keeping Knox to only two points in the opening ten minutes. Sesen Hanna (Hi) scored three quick buckets in the opening stanza with Ben Ugov (He) dominating underneath the basket with solid defence, rebounding and being the leading scorer with 12 points. Michael Kordian (Hi) also assisted with eight points. The team dominated Knox with a solid 13-point win.
Year 9A
The 9As’ greatest asset is that they play together and for each other which is what Trinity did against Knox, resulting in an impressive 10-point win. Christian Gregory (WH) held Trinity’s interior defence together in the absence of Cody Ramanauskas (Ke). After withstanding a late run that was expected by Knox, the Greens rallied together and took control in the late stages of the match. This game was about defence and the 9As wings, Sam Rundle (WJ) and Jonathan Orr (Ho), led the defence through their communication and constant effort.
Year 9B
This was a “bounce back” game that the 9Bs needed, resulting in a well-deserved 8-point win. Trinity came in determined to get this win and it really showed as they took control early and didn’t take our feet off the pedal. David Sukkar (Ta) and Giacomo Ricci (La) were outstanding on the defensive side, while Christian Marzullo (WJ) proved a huge impact at both ends with his relentless hustle, and his teammates feeding off his energy.
Year 9D
A scrappy game from start to finish with the 9Ds battling well throughout the game. Alex Brown (Ho) was a great addition, providing length on defence while also coming up with several extra possessions from rebounds and hustle plays. Lucas Huang (Sc) had his best game, being aggressive to score in the paint and finding his jump shot from the midrange. Benjamin Lim (Ar) provided the team with a presence all over the court, doing the dirty work to keep the team rolling and ahead for a strong double-digit win.
Year 9F
After a slow start in the first half, the 9Fs were determined to get themselves back into the game. Isaac Bassily (Yo) and Jonty Kirk (Fo), lead the team on the defensive end, giving Trinity a 1-point lead going into the half. Through their continued effort on both sides of the floor, along with an explosive scoring half from Hugo Bruce (St), the 9Fs secured a well-earned win.
Year 9G
A tough Knox team presented real adversity for the boys and coaching staff. A neck and neck game for the entirety of the match saw the Trinity boys prevail in the last three minutes, working tirelessly to keep their undefeated season alive. Special mention to Ayman Kassem (WH) and Alexander Ren (St) combining for 24 points and being a real offensive threat. Congratulations to the 9Gs on finishing the first half of the season undefeated.
Year 9I
The 9Is had an emphatic win holding Knox to a single basket in the first half. Trinity maintained their defensive efforts to allow only another two baskets in the second stanza. All ten players contributed on both ends of the court, with the scoring shared among many individuals. Tristan Bang (La) was again a force at both ends, with Pablo Doherty (Mu) scoring points off offensive rebounds. Ben Wyatt (WJ) was also a big factor in the middle, working well with Pablo.
Year 9J
It was a high scoring bonanza as Trinity amassed 37 points in their 6-point win against Knox. Khang Nguyen (WH) was firing early and ended up with 12 points, while Oscar Luton (We) had a monster game on both ends with blocks, rebounds and a big 20 points. Nathaniel Gibson (Sc), scoring his first basket for the year, was a highlight. A great way to end the year!
Year 8C
In a tight contest between two evenly matched teams, the 8Cs were ultimately unable to prevail against Knox, falling short by seven points. The boys gave it all for the full 40 minutes, with James Merry (Ho) rebounding hard, and Makoto Chapman (Du) and Will Routley (We) chasing down every loose ball. Roderick Chang (Yo) brought his usual dynamic offense for eight points, whilst Ryan Kim (Ar) continues to grow as a leader on and off the court. The team is looking forward to a rematch when the season resumes next year.
Year 8H
In their final game of round one, Trinity started off strong, taking the lead at the half due efficient scoring from Marc Licenblat (Du) and Ryan Kim (WJ). Despite the efforts of Michael Mikhael (Ke) grabbing rebounds on both sides of the court, Knox scored five points in quick succession in the final tense minute to take back the lead, resulting in the close loss for the boys.
Ben Morrissey | Director of Basketball
| TRINITY BASKETBALL RESULTS | |||
| CAS Rnd. 5 versus Knox |
| Team | Scores | Team | Scores |
| 1sts | 49-64 L | 9A | 38-28 W |
| 2nds | 43-34 W | 9B | 28-20 W |
| 3rds | 38-42 L | 9C | 24-42 L |
| 4ths | 46-49 L | 9D | 32-17 W |
| 5ths | 34-32 W | 9E | 20-32 L |
| 6ths | 30-21 W | 9F | 34-28 W |
| 7ths | 29-27 W | 9G | 37-31 W |
| 8ths | 18-29 L | 9H | 22-40 L |
| 9ths | 34-40 L | 9I | 29-7 W |
| 10ths | 25-57 L | 9J | 37-21 W |
| 11ths | 26-35 L | 8A | 29-43 L |
| 12ths | 18-52 L | 8B | 22-34 L |
| 10A | 31-48 L | 8C | 32-39 L |
| 10B | 33-31 W | 8D | 28-38 L |
| 10C | 27-38 L | 8E | 17-30 L |
| 10D | 46-30 W | 8F | 18-34 L |
| 10E | 31-32 L | 8G | 15-40 L |
| 10F | 15-32 L | 8H | 21-23 L |
| 10G | 27-14 W | 8I | 11-44 L |
| 10H | 21-45 L | 8J | 12-30 L |
| 14 Wins, 26 Losses, 0 Draw |
