Oakleigh Grammar have been crowned as champions of the 2023 Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM) Senior Boys Basketball Premiership in what’s being lauded as an “historic victory 23 years in the making.”
Snatching the top spot ahead of 22 competing independent schools, the closely contested Grand Final was a hard-fought bout against The Knox School who were the team to beat, having built a strong reputation in the sport in recent years.
Taking place on Wednesday 29 March at the Oakleigh Recreation centre, both teams were evenly matched on the scoreboard right down to the wire.
When the final siren sounded, Oakleigh Grammar claimed victory over their rivals with the difference of a single basket; the final score coming in at 55-53.
Oakleigh Grammar Coach and VCE Coordinator, James Kalfas, said “at the beginning of the Grand Final, I simply held up a blank notepad and told the team they had the opportunity to write their own story for how the season ends.”
Write their own story they did, their victory made that much sweeter by the fact Oakleigh Grammar’s Senior Basketball Team only secured a single win in the entirety of their 2021 and 2022 seasons.
But come 2023, the team set the stage in the first round when they defeated Kingswood College on their home court.
Success followed Oakleigh to all the way to the comp’s fifth round, when they took on competition favourites The Knox School; who they’d see again in the ultimate clash.
In what proved to be an “epic tussle” between the tourney’s two top sides, as the siren rang out Oakleigh Grammar sat two points down.
But not to be deterred, Vasileios Delichristos successfully scored the first two of three free throws to tie the match.
Referees were quoted as describing the game as “the best” they’d presided over in quite some time.
When Oakleigh and Knox met again in the competition’s Grand Final, staff, students and family settled in for what promised to be a well-matched and closely fought contest.
It didn’t fail to deliver.
Oakleigh Grammar’s Principle Mark Robertson described the game as “heart-stopping”
“It had sepctators on the edge of their seats, and I congratulate The Knox School for its valiant effort in testing out team to the very end.”
Delichristos was once again outstanding and in an “unsurprising” turn of events, was awarded Most Valuable Player for his efforts.
The young athlete dictated many of the game’s plays, running the clock down in the final seconds to secure the win.
Duncan Bain’s physical presence when rebounding was “fierce”, his leadership throughout the season “selfless and exceptional.”
George Maravelias’ three-point shooting was touted as “sublime” while Vassos Charalambous “demonstrated screening excellence” that’s put the team in great stead.
And James Soundy played what’s being called his “best game of the season.”
“I’m extremely proud of each and every member of this team for their hard work, dedication and discipline in bringing home the EISM ES-Division trophy,” Kalfas enthused.
“Oakleigh Grammar hadn’t won a boys basketball final since the year 2000, in the face of what appeared to be an insurmountable challenge, something magic happened.”
