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Sport
Basketball at Borlase
Basketball has grown exponentially in the last three
years at Borlase, from an informal game per week
run by 6th-formers to the current strong 3 squads
(seniors, juniors and girls), 3 sessions per week and
friendly fixtures. The sport is likely to be introduced as
an inter-house competition in the future, and more and
more students try it and stay for the season, attracted
by the expertise that their older peers have in training
and playing the game. We must remember that we have
national league players in the school, and that a number
of 6th-formers play outside school on a regular basis. Our
link with Bourne End Junior Sports Club has proved very
valuable in improving and developing our setup further.
Tribute must be paid to Joe Lawrie for his dedication and
enthusiasm, as well as for his role in this liaison, that we
hope to keep going in the future.
Our friendly this season saw the senior squad maintaining
a highly competitive level against long-serving and skilled
players of the same age. Our understanding of the game
and our collective efforts in both ends of the court have
indeed risen to the challenge. It will now be the role of a
younger generation of students to lead the sport in the
school. There are enough people involved and hooked
now to make us unlikely to abandon what has been
achieved.
I would like to extend a vote of thanks to every single
one of the students who turned up, even if only once, to
practise. To the regulars, I hope that they have managed
to enjoy the journey as much as I have, and that the
future sees them grow as players who play to the whistle
regardless of the score. Michael Jordan once said ‘I can
accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying. I’ve never been
afraid to fail... Some people want it to happen, some wish
it would happen, others make it happen.’ Enjoy.
Mr Arriandiaga
Senior Basketball 2013
As a sport with an undeniably global influence, it is only
fitting that basketball has its place at Borlase. What is
also undeniable is the talent of the team. With players
from all walks of life, it is like a family. Dom Katalanos has
lived as far afield as Ruislip, and can vouch for the fact
that the standard of basketball at Borlase easily surpasses
that of North-West London. Of course, for this we have
Mr Arriandiaga’s capacious knowledge and boundless
experience to thank, which he has generously chosen to
impart to us, his disciples on the court.
In many ways, the game of basketball is a metaphor for
life. You win some, you lose some. When asked about his
experiences on the court, Michael Lausch replied with ‘I
like basketball’; the passion for the sport is visible in all
of our players. It is regrettable that this passion cannot
be said to be shared by the country as a whole, as there
is a distinct lack of competitive game opportunities in
the area, but the commitment cannot be faulted. Many
people don’t realise the profoundly physical nature of this
non-contact sport. Power-forwards Kobi George and Matt
Triccas will tell you that injuries are not uncommon under
the basket, with the latter often dispensing said injuries.
The watchful eye of veteran Joe Lawrie has also helped
the team’s progress this year, and his brother Oli is proof
that even in basketball, size is certainly not everything. As
a coachmyself, I can corroborate the fact that the teamhas
made prodigious progress this academic year, with many
players gracing the few surrounding exterior basketball
leagues with their prowess. I have no doubt that with the
frequent addition of new players, the team can expect
more success in the future.
Will Knapman
