SHIRLEY WIN THEIR FIRST EVER SECONDARY SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP! Milan Newton and Toby Hunt lead the way as we come from behind to beat cross-town rivals Christ’s College 🏆
In the final game representing SBHS for most of the Senior A team, it is fitting that we come up against our cross town rivals for the 4th time this season in the first ever all Christchurch final to decide the National Championship.
The first quarter was a feeling out process with both teams trading baskets at the beginning. Christ’s got out to a 15-10 advantage mid-way through the first period, but the Spartans managed to stay focussed and be up 1 at the end of the quarter. The quarter time score was 21-20 to the Shirley team.
The Christ’s team showed why they were defending National Champs by lifting their intensity and scoring at ease to drop 30 points in the second quarter and go into the half time break up 51-45.
During the 3rd quarter the Spartans managed to keep close, and closed the deficit to 4 points going into the final quarter.
Almost trading baskets for the first 5mins of the final quarter, it looked like the Christ College team had the game in the bag as the Shirley team looked out on its feet.
A huge hustle play by Kobe Costley diving to the ground and securing a loose ball, and then making a miraculous no look pass off the floor to Milan Newton for a layup, gave the Spartans their second wind.
Toby Hunt scored on the next play locking the scores at 81 all. Hunt scored again, and then Milan Newton calmly knocked down a huge 3 as the shot clock was winding down putting the Spartans up 5.
A huge team defensive effort kept Christs scoreless in the last 2 and half minutes. The Shirley team added baskets from Toby, Milan, and Hozay Tito-Haitana to push the lead out to 13 and claim Shirley Boys’ High Schools first ever National Title 94-81.
Toby Hunt 31, Milan Newton 29, Hozay Tito-Haitana 14, Kobe Costley 10, Liam Marshall 6, Jack Cockburn 2, Jed Taylor 2.
Toby Hunt was named MVP and Milan Newton was named in the All-Star 5.
