Norlington School vs Leytonstone School

Norlington Year 9 faced Leytonstone School at home yesterday in the return fixture of the Waltham Forest League. Having lost the away tie 71–50 earlier in the season, the boys knew they were up against a strong and well organised Leytonstone side.

Norlington started the game positively. Kojo opened the scoring with a confident three pointer, while Leo used his height effectively to score several well taken fadeaway shots. This strong start saw Norlington finish the first quarter two points ahead.

The second quarter was evenly contested, with both teams trading baskets and defensive stops, ending the half level at 18–18. The intensity continued into the third quarter, where neither side was able to gain a clear advantage, and the scores remained tied at 28–28 going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, fatigue began to show, leading to some uncharacteristic errors and sloppy play. Leytonstone capitalised on this to edge ahead, eventually taking the win 46–41.

Despite the result, Norlington delivered an excellent performance and significantly closed the gap against a very strong Leytonstone team. Owais was outstanding defensively, contributing numerous rebounds and steals with an all-round defensive display. Kojo led the scoring with 16 points, showcasing his quality and composure as a point guard.

The team can take great confidence from this performance. Norlington have now qualified for the semi-final playoff, where they will face Heathcote School next week. The aim is to progress to the final, where a potential rematch against Leytonstone awaits, but for now, the boys remain focused on taking it one game at a time.