It’s been an up and down season for Highams Park basketball team; filled with injury, game winners and defeat. In the end, the team finished 1-3, unable to clinch a playoff berth.
The first game of the season was a home game against Heathcote Sixth Form. A slow start from the backcourt resulted in Highams Park trailing at halftime 30-20, with guards Ashraf Saaid and Roland giving up 10 turnovers in the first 2 quarters. However, a third quarter which had Kyle Lemon-Thomas scoring 10 points got Highams Park back in to the game.
The fourth quarter was hard fought and with the game teetering on a knifes edge, the game was 52-51 in Heathcote’s favour with 12 seconds left. Kyle Lemon-Thomas was fouled and had two free-throws to win the game. He sinks them both giving Highams Park their first win of the season.
However, it would be anything but plain sailing in the next 3 group stage games. It would seem that the Highams Park team, made of first years, were clearly overmatched by the far more physically developed and experienced teams of second and even third years in the following games. They would be blown out by George Monoux, in a contest that saw 14 offensive rebounds conceded by Highams park.
Highams Park put up a good fight against LSE and Trinity, however were eventually beat by the more experienced sides.
Starting Small Forward Nathanial Adams said “It’s been a learning curve for us this year.” Also stating “Over the summer the team will be in the gym, improving, getting stronger”
The unexpected loss of long time starter Alvi Elzi through back injury did not help the cause, however with his presence next season alongside the improvement of every player, Highams Park 6th form basketball team will be expected to do much better
