The Norlington School Year 8 basketball team were tested against a strong George Mitchell School side in their latest fixture, with the match providing an important learning experience for the boys. Despite the scoreline, the game offered valuable opportunities to develop both individually and as a team.

Norlington made a competitive start but found themselves under pressure during the first half, particularly from quick counter-attacks. George Mitchell moved the ball effectively and created fast-break opportunities, which proved difficult to contain. By half-time, Norlington trailed 14–26, reflecting the opposition’s ability to capitalise on turnovers and transition play.

Rebounding proved to be a major challenge throughout the match. George Mitchell benefited from a clear height advantage, allowing them to secure possession consistently and create second-chance opportunities. Norlington struggled to compete for rebounds in both halves, making it difficult to build sustained periods of attacking play. 

Offensively, the boys showed positive intent but at times forced shots rather than settling into their offence. As the match progressed, there were signs of improved decision-making and composure, particularly when players slowed the game down and looked to create better-quality scoring opportunities.

A positive attacking performance came from Adam, who showed confidence when driving to the basket. His aggressive approach resulted in him being fouled on two occasions, converting two free throws and finishing two layups to score six points for the team.

Mohammed Abdulhadi also showed clear improvement in his shooting. He successfully made two set shots on the counter-attack, demonstrating better composure and understanding of when to set himself before releasing the ball under defensive pressure.

From a defensive perspective, Matthew stood out during the third and fourth quarters. He worked tirelessly in transition, often marking more than one player, winning possession, and competing well for rebounds. His defensive effort was a key positive despite limited offensive opportunities.

Another encouraging contribution came from Khalani, who entered the game in the third quarter. He showed strong defensive awareness, recording blocks and steals, and made a positive pass in transition to help create an attacking driving lane.

Although the final result did not go Norlington’s way, the match highlighted important areas for development, particularly rebounding, defensive recovery, and confidence in attack. A committed effort from all the boys and plenty to build on moving forward.