Interschool tournament proves a big hit

BASKETBALL

A FIVE-ON-FIVE primary interschool basketball competition for Year 5 and 6 students was a big hit with those who took part this month.

Manutuke School won the tournament, beating Mangapapa School on a golden-point in the final.

The score at the end of regular time was 18-all, and the winning point was scored within two minutes of overtime starting.

Turanga Health and Gisborne Basketball Association organised the tournament, which was held in the Ilminster Intermediate gymnasium and attracted 10 schools — Manutuke, Mangapapa, Te Wharau, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui, Wainui Beach, Horouta Wananga, TKKM o Mangatuna, Waikirikiri, Sonrise Christian and Central.

Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti community events adviser Debbie Hutchings said the standout features of the tournament were the positive attitudes of the players, and the fun, excitement and good sportsmanship that were part of the occasion.

This was the first time the tournament had been held, and it was so successful she felt it would be even more popular in future.

Manutuke and Mangapapa emerged as finalists from round-robin play, which was conducted in two pools, each of five teams.

Each team had five players on the court and at least three players on the bench, which meant about 80 children took part in the one-day tournament, which started at 9.30am and finished by 1.50pm.

Games lasted 12 minutes, with rolling substitutions, no time-outs and no halftime.

Teams were mixed, and had to include at least two girls on the court at any one time. Most players were 10 or 11 years old.

“It was a fantastic day,” Hutchings said.

“It was an awesome atmosphere — a credit to the schools, the teams and the organisers.”