Grace Adams in action for the College team. Photo Ashburton GuardianAshburton College’s senior basketball teams kicked off their school competitions with a bang on Tuesday night, the girls thrashing Ellesmere College and the boys making a statement of intent by narrowly losing to a star-studded Christ’s College side.

It was a dominant performance by the Ashcoll senior girls at Oxford Street, where they won the first game of their Whelan Trophy competition 109-27.

Ellesmere struggled to contain the Ashcoll guards in transition, with point Sammy Arnold regularly finding wings Grace Adams and Liberty Ross wide open on the break, for a comfortable 58-16 lead at the half.

Ashcoll continued to control the game in the second half, with Ellesmere unable to contain the Ashcoll bigs, allowing Ashlee Strawbridge and Summer Anderson to knock in 20 points each.

Christ’s are seeded top of the boys’ McDonald’s Thompson Trophy competition for good reason with three players among the top 50 schoolboy basketballers in the country, including newly-arrived Max Darling, who was in the New Zealand junior Tall Blacks squad.

They are coached by former Tall Black Mark Dickel.

Ashcoll coach Pip Johnston had his side primed for the encounter and a three-pointer by newbie Quinn Ritchie launched what was a good shooting first half, with Ashcoll ahead 19-16 at the first quarter and up 34-33 at halftime.

An average third quarter allowed Christ’s to pull ahead 58-53 at three-quarter time, a buffer they extended by one to eventually win 79-73.

Johnston said the boys had played what was likely the top school side in the South Island.

“My standout player of the game was Tomo (Thomas O’Brien).

“I liked the way he carried himself and let his defence do the talking.

“ If we continue to play like this, we will go a very long way and achieve the goals we have set.”

While O’Brien was busy on defence, four of his team-mates took up the shooting responsibilities. Josh Lowe top-scored with 17 points, while Fletcher Arnold finished on 15 points and Mitchel Prendergast and Gareth Hunt on 12 each.

“The boys played with a lot of pride and passion.

“It was important that I kept them calm and focused as when you play against good teams you can’t afford to let off one bit.

“I was impressed with the senior leadership group and how they handled the pressure.”

Johnston said a vocal bench helped spur a good-sized crowd.

“I loved that the crowd got into the game and behind us.

“It’s the best crowd I have seen down there in a long time and I hope it only grows during the season.”

Both Ashburton teams head to Cashmere next week for a double header there.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 11 May 2017