College score first win

Wairarapa College have scored their first win in the Manawatu premier secondary schoolboys basketball competition.
Despite being affected by illness and injury, they beat Awatapu College 69-50, a result which pleased coach, England Commonwealth Games representative Jane Thackray, because of the consistency of their play and the improvement displayed by each individual.
Thackray was especially delighted with the strong defensive effort, with Jacob Carson and Steven Ashby having their best games to date, and the ever-reliable Peter Beech again starring even though he had to drag himself out of his sick-bed to play.
Brothers Lachie and Corey McFadzean were ruled out through sickness, while Darren Jones missed the game because of a shoulder injury, absences which meant promotion for juniors Joe Beech and Wiremu Grace.
The first quarter saw Wairarapa College start well with some solid defence, and controlled offence making life difficult for their opposition. They took an early lead and Peter Beech regularly used his height under the basket to keep them in front.
It was satisfying too that when the bench players were given match time they actually increased the pressure, a sign of the development made by the whole squad over the last few weeks.
Steven Ashby secured a number of rebounds and also played strongly under the basket to score some important points. Jacob Carson also came to light in that respect and at the end of the first quarter Wairarapa College led by eight points.
The second quarter was very much more of the same, with Thackray having the luxury of being able to give all players court time. Pat Topham and Peter Beech made some excellent steals in the press, thereby creating some comfortable scoring chances, and Zane Hopman showed his versatility in offence by making some effective drives to the basket. But it was Jacob Carson who most took the eye, finishing this quarter with 10 points and some good defensive rebounds and helping Wairarapa College to a 14-point halftime lead.
The third quarter saw Jacob Carson and Peter Beech continue their dominance on offence and both juniors Joe Beech and Wiremu Grace contributed well in their debut at this level. There was a solid effort too from Seb McFadzean who controlled proceedings when Carson took a well earned rest. He showed excellent distribution skills under pressure from the Awatapu guards.
Going into the fourth and final quarter Wairarapa College led by 12 points, and this period was all about securing the victory, something coach Thackray ensured by having her starting five on court.
They played a half court man to man game to guarantee Awatapu were afforded no easy shots as well as some long controlled offensive play to use the clock up.
Both Peter Beech and Steven Ashby picked up some loose offensive rebounds to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and Wairarapa College won by 18 points, 69-51.
Individual scorers were: Peter Beech 18, Jacob Carson 16, Steven Ashby 14, Zane Hopman 9, Andy Cameron 4, Seb McFadzean 4, Pat Topham 2, Wiremu Grace 1.