Basketball CAS Round 3 versus Waverley
“Trinity outlast and out muscle Waverley in physical contest at Summer Hill.”
1st V
The Firsts kept their A.V. Smith Shield aspirations alive with an outstanding display of tough, relentless basketball in their double-digit win (83-68) on a hot Friday night in the Trinity Sports Centre. A huge asset was the Trinity student body who came out in support of their mates, which spurred the men in Green on late when the game was in the balance. Trinity may have begun slowly offensively, but it was night and day on the defensive end from the previous Friday night, with the boys locked in and ready to fight for every inch of the court. Down by five points at the end of the first quarter (11-16), it was rookie Myles Buvac (9WJ) who got the crowd and Trinity going as he nailed a big ‘3’. Jayden Woods (12Ar) and Liam Isaako (10WJ) attacked the rim with purpose combing for 18 points for the half. Ollie Smith (11Ar) and Nelson McEnallay-Mino (12Ke) stepped up and provided Trinity with instant impact off the bench with their desperation at both ends and two big baskets at the end of the second period to see Trinity now lead by five points (35-30) at the main break.
A pumped-up Trinity came out and kept the pressure on with their trademark full court ‘D’, but the third quarter belonged to James Andrews (12La) who sliced through the Waverley defence to pour in 11 points. James Arthur (12WH) provided great support as he also nailed an important basket, along with a miracle shot from Noah Herden (10He) to see Trinity extend the lead to eight points with the final quarter remaining (60-52). Jesse Edwards (10WH) who was tightly guarded found some space as he nailed a pair of triples on his way to 11 points for the period. Andrews continued to find driving lanes as the Greens rallied to take the match and set up another showdown with Knox Grammar, with the result deciding on what School or Schools take CAS glory in 2022.
Leading Statistics
James Andrews – 23 pts. 8 rebs. 5 asts.
Jesse Edwards – 17 pts. 6 rebs.
Jayden Woods – 14 pts. 8 rebs.
Liam Isaako – 12 pts.
2nd V
In the final home game of the season it was a tale of two halves for the Seconds. The opening quarter was quite slow and lacklustre as neither team shot the ball well; despite this Waverley led by six points at the first break (6-12). Waverley dominated in the second period, hitting three 3-point shots along with ramping their defensive intensity to restrict the Greens to a dismal three points and in a big hole at the main break down 12 points (9-21).
A gut check at half-time saw a Trinity resurgence in the third quarter on the back of their defensive intensity from Rory Clunas (12Yo) and Hugo Reed (11Ho) each with numerous deflections and steals. Alisi Leao (12Mu) led the team in rebounding and controlled the paint, as the Greens’ defence was close to impenetrable, only conceding three points in the third and the deficit cut to a basket (21-24). With Waverley’s lead diminished, the game was for the taking in the final eight minutes. Eden Taouk (12WJ) hit a huge 3-pointer early in the quarter to give the Greens their first lead of the game. Anson Zhou (12Ke) ensured Trinity wouldn’t surrender this lead again as he took complete control, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the final quarter. This included multiple clutch free throws. The seconds keep their premiership hopes alive with a remarkable comeback victory, which sets up a season-defining clash with Knox next week.
Leading Scorers
Anson Zhou – 17 pts 4 asts. 5 stls.
Rory Clunas – 6 pts 4 rebs.
Alisi Leao – 4 pts. 5 rebs.
3rd V
The intensity of Trinity’s defence led to many steals and kept the Greens in the lead for the entire game and a perfect 3-0 record. Felix Leckie (12La) and Paris Karakikes (11He) continue to dominate offensively and are forming a nice combination. Tim Braga (11Du), Nick Protopsaltis (11Yo) and Pavle Ceprnja (11St) are combining well to build a wall that each week makes opponents’ ability to score baskets in the paint very difficult.
4th V
Trinity got off to a flying start with Liam Clayton (12Fo) sinking a 3-point shot in four consecutive possessions. Waverley slowly flipped the momentum to be only three points behind at half time. The reliable defence and rebounding of Sam Niulala (11St) and Daniel Lu (12We) provided ball security for Trinity and the lead at the break. The second half was a grind, but Trinity skipped out with five minutes remaining and held to take the match by seven points.
5th V
Trinity made it three straight victories and with a few players ‘out’ for the last home game, to achieve this result required intense defensive work and a test of fitness. Early in the first half, Henry Nabavi-Tabrizi (11St) cracked open the Waves’ defence with a series of smart drives and clever passing, providing numerous layups and baskets for Gabriel Simoes-Peixeiro (11Sc), who was tigerishly strong under the ring. Adrian Ong (11St) and Jonah Arraj (11Hi) were highly effective, creating baskets with Brandon Lieu (11Ho) and George Karabatsos (11Ta) working tirelessly as the Team ‘glue’ in defence. Joel Maher (11Ta) aka – “Mr Steal” was superb at both ends of the court repeatedly turning any Waves offence into Green points with his quick hands.
6th V
The Sixths established an 18-point lead at half time built on the back of some outstanding offence by Alex Fisterman (11WH) and Dean Paraskevopoulos (12Fo) who combined for 36 points. Emile Harb (11Sc) started the scoring with a huge 3-pointer. He was ably supported by Giancarlo Vari (11Ke), who sniped away on the fringes and then finished the game with a long bomb ‘buzzer beater’ to put an exclamation mark on Trinity’s victory and keep the unbeaten run intact.
7th V
Trinity remain undefeated with another comprehensive win. It was a slow start to the game by Trinity, but a fast finish saw the Greens come home strongly. James Andrianakos (12Yo) led the scoring and was ably assisted by the athleticism of Issac Cunningham (12He) and Sebastian Sara (12Du), who ran the court hard and grabbed important rebounds. This commanding team performance saw Trinity play a strong attacking and fast style of Basketball.
8th V
Trinity suffered their first defeat of the season in tough and bruising encounter. Waverly came out the blocks quickly and led the whole game but a spirited fightback by Trinity saw the match go down to the final minutes. Strong performances from Jack Gully (11WH), Josh Boursiani-Lawrence (11We) and James Kaye (12Ho) enabled Trinity to get close to a physical Waverley team but unfortunately not good enough on the day. Special praise to Lachlan McGrath (12Sc), Ben Robinson (12Yo) and Rowan O’Connor (11Mu) who doubled-up from playing withs 9ths and performed at a high level.
9th V
The 9ths had their work cut out this week against a towering Joey’s 7th V, who were strong and physical throughout. They thought they were going to walk over Trinity, looking at the size mismatch, but underestimate the Greens’ spirit at your peril. The game plan was clear: Drive to the basket on offence and draw the fouls. Ben Robinson (12Yo) wasted no time in using his excellent rebounding form to put some early points on the board. Some excellent shooting once again from Cody Lambert (11He) gave Trinity a narrow 2-point lead going into half time. Some strong drives from Christian Falato (11Sc) in the second half helped the 9ths edge out a 5-point lead, with players being knocked to the floor on numerous occasions. As the famous saying goes, “It’s not how many times you get knocked down that count, it’s how many times you get back up again”. The whole team showed grit and determination to secure the inspiring 10-point victory and keep their perfect 3-0 record alive.
10th V
Trinity faced a St. Joseph’s 8ths team who were strong and physical, intimidating the 10ths in the first five minutes and taking a 20-point lead. The Greens were not going down without a fight and a flurry of rebounding and four straight baskets by James Mallios (12Hi) inspired the comeback. At one point Trinity managed to pull to within four points, with Koda Sleiman (12Ta) and Jaiden Timperi (12Hi) out-muscling Joey’s. Then a huge 3-point basket from Koda put fire back in the belly of the 10ths. James Mallios’ offensive prowess saw him lead the scoring with 14 points. A hard-fought game that Trinity could take as a heroic loss.
11th V
The 11ths were on the losing end of a close battle on Saturday against a higher-ranked St Joseph’s 9ths. Koda Sleiman (12Ta) led the team in scoring, keeping the pace of the game at a fast level, which allowed Aidis Exarhos (12WJ) to continually finish at the rim.
Year 10A
With only six regular 10A players available due to injuries and protocols, Trinity showed great resilience to get the win and remain undefeated. The Greens jumped out to an early lead (8-0), with Peter Tanevski (WH) disruptive at the top of the trapping defence. Waverley slowly edged closer to Trinity and took the lead halfway into the first half, but it was Henry Mansfield’s (Ke) dominant presence around the rim which allowed Trinity to get out and run. Hayden Hoang (Ta) used his energetic style of play to boost the morale of all the boys which saw the 10As extend their lead after the break. Brenden Geddes (Mu) used his diverse offensive skills, hitting multiple threes to extend Trinity’s lead.
Year 10C
The 10Cs endured a close loss, which was tough to accept given that Trinity were leading by a few points for most of the game. All individuals played well, but our opponents worked better as a team, particularly in the pressure of the final minutes. Well done to Sam Eastwood (He) who drove hard and fast to the basket multiple times for a much-needed quick baskets. Lawrence Hoe (Yo) also played consistently and unselfishly, always looking for the pass or the rebound wherever possible.
Year 10E
Trinity started the game very well, with Jett Halmarick (Ar) hitting three for three from the 3-point line. Solid team defence provided good offensive possessions for the 10Es, which was an area the boys had spoken about in recent weeks. A poor start to the second half proved costly as numerous turnovers allowed Waverley to quickly get back into the game. Some great individual work from Aaron Byeun (We) which saw him hit three quick baskets almost lowed Trinity to snatch a late victory.
Year 9A
After a tight first half, the 9As pulled away late for a comfortable double-digit win despite missing multiple regular players. James Borg (He) stepped up with his best game of the season, playing great defence, especially off the ball, while adding in 11 points and Jedd Sheehy (Du) also performed very well despite being forced to play in his less preferred position. The team collectively played a very unselfish game, moving the ball well, particularly in transition, and it was pleasing to see it lead to a victory.
Year 9C
With a number of boys out, the 9Cs rallied together and did their best to almost snatch a memorable victory just falling short by a single basket. Austin Wang (Sc) was great as he stepped up and took on the role as scorer and facilitator. Isaac Irwin (Yo) also provided a level defence that was unmatched the entire game, applying pressure to the Waverley side which caused a number of turnovers and opportunities for the Greens to score easy baskets.
Year 9D
Another close win for Trinity, as they hustled the entire game against a formidable Waverley outfit. The boys were up against it, having a depleted side, but they stuck with it and got the 5-point win. Jake Matthews (Ke) showed that he belonged at this level, making plays on both end of the court. With two games left and both at home, this group is ready to finish the season off strongly.
Year 8A
The undermanned 8A showed great courage and perseverance in their defeat. It was a very competitive and tough first half, as both Schools were deadlocked for the most part. Defensively, Josh A’s (Fo) frenetic effort to pressure the opposing guards as well as help teammates was pivotal to the Greens only conceding nine points in the first half. Offensively, the Greens relied heavily upon Malakai S (We) whose determinedness to attack the basket resulted in him contributing a game high 14 points, many of which were from the free throw line. Despite Trinity’s best efforts, the pivotal difference was a result of squandering open scoring opportunities, along with allowing Waverley to an abundance of offensive rebounds during the late stages.
Year 8B
The terrorizing size of the 8B proved too much for Waverley as the Greens cruised to a comfortable 11-point victory. David Sukkar (Ta) was phenomenal from the outset as he finally utilized his sheer size and physicality to dominate the game finishing with a team high 14 points. By halftime the boys had jumped out to a double-digit lead. However, in the second half the 8Bs intensity dropped as both teams traded baskets. Jonathon Orr (Ho) provided some much-needed poise to control the tempo of the game and ensure Waverley couldn’t comeback.
Year 8C
Trinity gave their best, most consistent performance yet in a narrow 3-point loss. Powered by the length and athleticism of Zac Tashtan (Ke) and Alex Brown (Ho), the boys generated plenty of scoring opportunities but ultimately fell short in the final minutes. Special mention must go to Tommy Luu (Ar), who is fast becoming the team’s most improved player with his strength, speed and skill growing by the week.
Year 8D
In a spirited 7-point win, the 8Ds outran and outsmarted their much bigger opponents with solid defence and great looks in transition. The hot hand belonged to Dean Constantinou (Mu) who was once again the team’s top scorer, finishing with a season-high 12 points. Benjamin Lim (Ar) and David Charas (Ho) chipped in with key buckets, whilst Hussein Choker (He) sealed the victory with a monster block on one end, followed by the dagger on the very next play at the offensive end.
Year 8E
The 8E had an ecstatic victory in a game that came down to the final seconds. Kevin Pham (WJ) was fantastic throughout constantly using his physicality and athleticism to rebound the ball and spark Trinity’s transition attack. Though the boys eased into the contest the addition of Romeo Ozdemir (Du) was instantly felt, as he used his lighting speed to score a game high 10 points and give Trinity a slim lead. With less than two minutes Waverly came within 1-point, however Scott Yuan (Fo) scored three clutch free throws to propel Trinity to close victory.
Year 8F
It was a slow start for Trinity, as both teams struggled to score in the early going. However, Liam Walker (Ho) provided the boys with an immediate spark, through his defensive pressure and tenacity which also translated to two quick baskets. While Isaac Bassily (Yo) physicality and towering frame prevented Waverley from securing any offensive rebounds as he controlled the glass. In the second half despite dictating the game, Trinity was only narrowly ahead. Although, it was not until Nash Waters-Delany (Hi) scored the last six points that the 8Fs would secure their second victory of the season.
Year 7F
After a nail-biting loss to Aloy’s the week before, the boys in Green were destined to show that they were the team to beat his week. Both teams started out firing, trading basket for basket. Trinity’s lead extended to 20 points, with Oscar Levy (Ar) leading the charge with his shooting, which resulted in a game and season high 22 points.
Year 7H
A great start by the Trinity as they established a solid lead well into the first half. Harry Hartzenburg (Yo) worked hard and was the main contributor on the score sheet, while Zavier Nguyen (Ta) provided some great energy in defence causing numerous turnovers. With the game tied and Trinity ball from the baseline the boys looked to execute the winning play, but unfortunately fell short with the game finishing deadlocked in what was a really good sporting experience from both teams.
Ben Morrissey | Director of Basketball
TRINITY BASKETBALL RESULTS
CAS Round 3 versus Waverley College
| Team | Scores | Team | Scores |
| 1sts | 83-68 W | 9A | 46-33 W |
| 2nds | 36-30 W | 9B | 26-45 L |
| 3rds | 48-34 W | 9C | 33-35 L |
| 4ths | 49-42 W | 9D | 30-25 W |
| 5ths | 64-37 W | 9E | Rained Out |
| 6ths | 44-31 W | 9F | Rained Out |
| 7ths | 44-31 W | 9G | Rained Out |
| 8ths | 30-39 L | 9H | Rained Out |
| 9ths vs. St.Joseph’s 7ths | 32-22 W | 8A | 26-38 L |
| 10ths vs. St.Joseph’s 8ths | 27-40 L | 8B | 26-15 W |
| 11ths vs. St.Joseph’s 9ths | 31-39 L | 8C | 20-23 L |
| 12ths vs. St.Joseph’s 10ths | 20-24 L | 8D | 26-19 W |
| 13ths vs. St.Joseph’s 11ths | 23-48 L | 8E | 21-18 W |
| 14ths vs. St.Joseph’s 12ths | 15-107 L | 8F | 16-8 W |
| 10A | 44-31 W | 8G | 12-32 L |
| 10B | 21-45 L | 8H | 22-20 W |
| 10C | 30-37 L | 8I | Rained Out |
| 10D | 23-35 L | 8J | Rained Out |
| 10E | 21-43 L | 7A | 34-45 L |
| 10F | 28-33 L | 7B | 16-30 L |
| 10G | Rained Out | 7C | 31-31 D |
| 10H | Rained Out | 7D | 12-34 L |
| 7E | 16-44 L | ||
| 17 wins, 21 losses, 2 Draws | 7F | 38-8 W | |
| 7G | 22-34 L | ||
| 7H | 26-26 D | ||
| 7I | Rained Out | ||
| 7J | Rained Out | ||
