The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.
Phil Jackson – Former American professional basketball player and coach
Clifton High School’s U14 Basketball Team embraced and embodied the true meaning behind our values of Curiosity, Empathy, Love and Direction, epitomising them all in the final of Basketball England’s Dynamik National Schools Premier Cup competition against St Thomas the Apostle School and College at England’s Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester.
The Dynamik National Schools Competition is an English league with age groups ranging from U14 to U19 for both boys and girls. Its aim is to enable every age group in secondary school the opportunity to compete outside of their normal PE lessons.
After Clifton High School team’s unbeaten success in preceding regional rounds, the players took time out of their Easter holiday break to travel to Manchester on Wednesday 27th March 2024, for a much-anticipated final. Led by Mr Mike Wallington, Teacher of PE, the pupils undertook the challenge with enthusiasm and vigour supported by family members, friends and our Head of School, Mr Luke Goodman.
After a nervous exchange of scoring shots between both teams in the first quarter, Clifton High School took an early lead. Unfortunately, the size and skill of the opposition enabled them to pull away and as the game unfolded, the final score of 66-76 meant a very credible runners-up medal was presented at the final whistle. To view the detailed statistics of the game, click here.
We commend all the players for upholding the principles of Clifton High School through the following:
- Curiosity – the teams innate drive to seek out new challenges and experiences was enhanced by not only their motivation but also their ability to be dignified in both success and defeat.
- Empathy – a team is not a team without empathy. Each member proved their ability to resonate with each other both emotionally and physically, sharing the experience and connection to only strengthen their camaraderie.
- Love – For the love of the game! Every player proved their intrinsic enjoyment and appreciation of the game of Basketball throughout the journey to the final. Their continued enthusiasm on and off the court was represented through their growth of knowledge, strategies and structure of the game.
- Direction – the team’s sense of purpose was evident throughout the competition. Their collective objective of moving forward with success, guided by their teachers, led towards success.
Reaching the final of this esteemed competition was an extremely proud and monumental achievement for our Basketball team of players, who will have gained significant confidence and renewed ambition to go one step further next year!
I felt extremely lucky and proud to be able to watch the Team perform so incredibly well, in the final of this national basketball competition. The way in which they conducted themselves throughout the whole competition was fortified by their actions on the court in the final!
I know they will turn their disappointment, at the very end of this season, into further strength for the next, with renewed ambition and drive to get to another national final!
We look forward to watching this very special group of athletes continue their basketball journey, both at Clifton High School and beyond.
Mr Luke Goodman, Head of School
Many congratulations to all members of the squad, many of whom are on local and national pathways with Bristol Flyers Academy (Ismael and Jamie (U16), Jac, Tristan, Felix and Isaac (U14) and Lya (U12)) and England Basketball Aspire Programme (Ismael (U15), Felix, Isaac and Lya (U13)). Year 9 pupil, Jamie, also plays for North Somerset Stars' first team in the 2-1-2 line-up of starting five for every game. We will continue to follow their basketball journeys with much anticipation.
