Australian School Basketball Championships
Congratulations to the Senior A Girls Basketball team who did the College community proud at the Australian School Basketball Championships in Week 7. The Opening Ceremony set the tone for success, and the girls lived up to the challenge.
Competing interstate against many specialist basketball schools, St Michael’s dominated the court early with some incredible talent. In the first game against Westfield, Sienna’s impressive nine three-pointers showcased the team’s strength and determination. The second game against Lake Ginninderra was a collective effort, with Coco securing 18 rebounds and Zahlia adding 10, pushing the reigning 2022 champions into overtime. The third minor game against Marsden College brought both speed and intensity, with Coco achieving a remarkable triple-double.
The girls moved into the quarterfinals undefeated, but unfortunately a nailbiter saw them knocked out of the finals against John Paul College. Despite this, the girls are already planning a resilient comeback for next year, using this experience to grow as a team.
We are immensely proud of the team’s talent and determination, highlighting their growth and unity. Despite the setback, the girls have left an indelible mark, and we are grateful to have witnessed their amazing journey unfold. We know there is a promising future ahead for the team!
I would like to give a special mention to the Year 12 players, Lilli and Chloe, who we farewell from the Senior A Basketball team. We wish you all the best for future.
Congratulations also to Coco who won Best Defensive Player of the tournament, and scored herself a well-deserved $500 Footlocker voucher.
Ebony Minagall, Girls Co-Curricular Coordinator (Acting)
Student Reflections
“The Senior A Girls Basketball team spent the past week playing at the nationals in the Gold Coast where we finished top of our pool and narrowly missed finals in the cross over games. The week was such an amazing opportunity for all the girls to develop their friendships and play the game of basketball that we all love so much. Other than basketball, we all got to experience the highlights of the Gold Coast such as Pacific Fair, the Surfer’s Paradise Night Markets, and many pool and beach trips. The week taught us all to stick together even in the hard moments and the importance of always trying our best to achieve our goals. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Ebony and Mr Young for all the hours that were put into planning this once in a life time experience. Also to Ms Axon and our coaches for making the week so memorable. This trip was such a great way to finish our time at SMC and we are sure it will be an experience that will be talked about for many years to come.” – Lilli H & Chloe M, Year 12
“This nationals trip was a really enjoyable experience for myself and the team. To qualify for the Championship Division in such a prestigious competition was a huge honour and it was special to be a part of. It was a great chance to bond with my schoolmates on and off the court. Although we didn’t get the result we were hoping for, it was a learning experience and I made some amazing memories with an incredible group of girls.” – Sienna G, Year 11
“I was most grateful that the school allowed us to attend the Championships. A lot of people thought we were the underdog, but we were relatively confident with how we might go and that was shown with winning our first three games. Although the start of the tournament was what we wanted to achieve the end result was not what we where hoping for, it was great to compete with a good group of girls and develop great team bonding skills throughout the week.
The highlight of the tournament for me was when Sienna hit nine three-pointers in the first game and Coco‘s consistent performance, making her the overall best defender in the competition. Everyone else had a really solid contributions across the board. I hope we get to go away again next year with Ebony.” – Sophie B, Year 11
