Brisbane State High, TSS still motivated to finish season on a high despite no premiership
There will be no premiership awarded this season but GPS basketball’s undefeated teams are still motivated to finish the season on top.
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It was the showdown between GPS basketball heavyweights that could have decided this year’s premiership.
But the competition’s two undefeated First V teams in Brisbane State High School and The Southport School have been left deflated after southeast Queensland’s most recent Covid lockdowns forced the decision for no premiership to be awarded this season.
State High were rolling heading into the lockdown, beating another premiership contender in Gregory Terrace on their home floor, with Kris Robinson’s team featuring talents such as Elijah Kamu and more proving difficult to stop.
While TSS had gone through the start of the season relatively unchallenged as former NBL veteran Anthony Petrie and his team led by the likes of Preston Le Gassick and Lloyd McVeigh dominating their opponents.
And while TSS still have a match-up with Gregory Terrace ahead of them this weekend, it was the much-anticipated Round 5 clash with State High, which would have gone a long way to deciding which school would etch their name in the GPS basketball history books.
State High coach Kris Robinson said they understood the process in deciding there would be no premiership in 2021.
“There is very little we can do about the situation, it would have been a tight contest with three or four sides more than capable of taking it out,” he said.
“The players have been excellent (in dealing with the situation), with the total bans on practice GPS wide and then the gradual relaxation of the lockdown conditions, they have accepted and adapted exceptionally well.
Robinson said his team didn’t need any extra motivation to finish the season.
“They are all committed to their team and teammates, they love the game and are all competitors,” he said.
TSS coach Anthony Petrie echoed Robinson’s comments and said dealing with the lockdowns and an interrupted season was a different scenario for everyone involved.
“Not only our team but there are so many other great teams in the GPS that I am certain would of loved the opportunity to all play each other,” he said.
“I’m really proud of the boys continued commitment lead by our seniors within the team, they have done a tremendous job of driving it.
“We understand we are so fortunate and grateful to still even have a game of basketball to go and play, some juniors from around the country have missed an entire age group of competition.
“We have spoken about high school sport remaining the purest form of competition left and for the boys to really enjoy this last experience together at TSS.
“We know there is no point in wasting energy on things out of our control and that there are people experiencing far greater problems due to Covid than what we are in regards to gps basketball.
“The boys realise they are extremely lucky to be functioning the way they are compared to a lot of other young adults their age around Australia right now.”
State High will travel to Toowoomba to take on Toowoomba Grammar School on Saturday while TSS will also be on the road to take on Gregory Terrace.
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Originally published as Brisbane State High, TSS still motivated to finish season on a high despite no premiership
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