The St George Youth League Men’s team delivered one of their most impressive performances of the season on Saturday afternoon, dismantling the Springwood Scorchers 112-61 in a commanding display of intensity, teamwork and shooting power.
Coming off a narrow six-point loss to Camden Valley before the bye round, the Saints responded in emphatic fashion as they continue to establish themselves as one of the rising teams in the competition.
St George came out firing early, forcing turnovers and converting fast-break opportunities to race to a 28-17 lead at quarter time. Their defensive pressure lifted another level in the second quarter, restricting Springwood to just nine points while building a dominant 52-26 halftime advantage.
The Saints continued their momentum throughout the second half, catching fire from three-point range with 10 triples for the game while maintaining relentless defensive pressure. St George forced an incredible 42 turnovers on their way to the 51-point victory.
Tao Smith starred with a sensational triple-double performance, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in a complete all-round display.
Jaxon Frintzilas, sponsored by DSS Facilities, was outstanding with 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocks, while Caleb Lagolago-Craig added 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Assistant Coach Angelo Tsitsos praised the team’s effort and commitment across all four quarters.
“The group responded exactly the way we hoped after the Camden Valley loss. Our defensive pressure and unselfish basketball set the tone early and the boys maintained that intensity for the full game. We are continuing to grow each week and the belief within the group is building,” Tsitsos said.
The Saints now travel to Tamworth this weekend for their second meeting of the season against the Thunderbolts.
Meanwhile, St George’s Men’s team battled bravely against a strong Port Macquarie side featuring an American import, eventually falling 78-61 in their BNSW Waratah League clash.
Despite the loss, Head Coach George Aliferis praised the determination shown by his young side against the experienced opposition.
“I’m proud of our never give up attitude,” Aliferis said.
“We had opportunities to close the gap, but the experience and composure of Port Macquarie was too good. We earned the respect of our competitors and we continue to build from our performance.”
Loukas Triantis, sponsored by Bacino Bar, led St George with an outstanding performance of 25 points, five rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Yianni Trikillis, sponsored by Kids Kapers, added 21 points and seven rebounds, while Ross Aliferis, sponsored by Valsamis & Associates, made a major impact defensively and led by example throughout the contest.
Other strong results across the club included the U18 Boys Grey defeating Parramatta Cumberland 81-42 and the U18 Girls overcoming Blacktown Storm 37-27.
