Basketball: Napier Boys' High School senior team claim maiden premiership qualifying crown

Napier Boys' High School senior basketball team celebrate after winning the zone 3 qualifying premiership in Palmerston North today. Photo/supplied

If mock examinations are anything to go by it's safe to say Napier Boys' High School senior A team are on track to etch their name on the dux honours board of secondary schoolboys' basketball.

The Damion and Dwayne Davies-coached NBHS side beat Wellington champions Rongotai College 77-72 in the four-day, zone 3 premiership qualifying finals in Palmerston North yesterday.

It was yet another tick in the box for the Sky Blues' senior national secondary schoolboys' ambitions this year.

The Hawke's Bay champions beat Palmerston North Boys' High School 92-82 in the semifinals of the 20-team competition that offered the top six place getters a berth at the nationals to be staged at the same venue next month.

"We thought that if we could play our best we could compete against anyone," said co-coach Damion Davies, alluding to a Basketball New Zealand write up which pitted NBHS, PNBHS and Rongotai as the front runners for the title yesterday.

"What makes it more pleasing is that it's the first time Napier Boys have ever won it in the history of the school," he said.

"They have never won a senior [qualifying] premiership before."

The inaugural qualifying premiership was staged in 2002 although NBHS are the only side in the province to ever claim national honours when they claimed the bragging rights with former coach Paul Trass in 1992.

Under the twin Davies' tutelage, this time last year was the first time an NBHS side had won a zone 3 premiership at junior and senior levels.

Davies' sons, Tyrese, a centre, and Isaiah, a power forward, are co-captains in a team who have faith in doing well to make their way out of their pool for a top-eight position at the nationals.

On Saturday, NBHS averaged 93 points a game in offence but were equally adroit in keeping a leash on opposition in bleeding 62 points a match on defence.

"We were the best defensive team there so we were the best offensive team as well but, as they say, championships are won on defence," said Damion Davies.

Tyrese scored 25 points while Kobe Kara (13 points), Yu Qing Jiang (11) and Clifton Bush jr (10) added to the collective cause in the final.

The Curtis Wooten-coached Hastings Boys' High School secured the sixth position to the nationals on Saturday.