SBC VS WHITEFRIARS. Year 7 ACC Division 1 Basketball Grand Final.

The Mecca if you will.

The road has come to an end with two teams ready to go to war.

For those of you that are new to the feed, Whitefriars finished on top of the ladder undefeated and showing us why in Round 5 by winning 78-53. That bus ride home created a sense of doubt in the team as we all sat knowing that Friars would be the team waiting in the final.

As the stage was set, a final team huddle grew tight and the words “family” were expressed amongst the team. The team earnt every win throughout the season, they gave up a day on their holidays to train together for the first time. They gave up lunchtimes for meetings and after-schools for practice. They learnt that they could only win if it was together. Underdogs we were and how fitting as we always had nothing to lose but everything to win all season long.

I guess everyone enjoys an underdog including the final scoreboard, as our own St. Bernard’s achieved the unthinkable to most and went home champions.

Whitefriars 45. SBC 46.

I could not be more proud of this team and I hope the way I see the game translates with these up-and-coming athletes for the years to come. Looking back at my junior years of basketball, these experiences are what we remember the most.

A massive shout out to Mr. Aaron Heppell. The man sacrificed his time and put in energy when exhaustion was near. We’ll be hanging up his banner high next to ours, as the Division 2 team were never in doubt of not being crowned Kings. Hep, you’ll always be Essendon’s favourite Heppell.

Winning culture is back and it’s called St. Bernard’s.

Enjoy this moment legends, take it all in and never forget the only thing that feels as good as being champions is going back-to-back. I’ll have to find another spot for the 2023 Premiership Banner…