Kaikohe scene continues to pulse

FROZEN: Kaikohe junior basketball reps show off their signature moves from left Jhontae Rameka, Tu Kaha Cooper, Aparahama Cooper and Te Morehu Hippolite.

The fluctuating fortunes of basketball in the Far North over the past few years have been well documented. As in one season, the game appears to be progressing naturally with good participation numbers and representation, then seemingly goes into suspended animation the following year for no apparent reason.

The good news, however, is that the Kaikohe Basketball Association was currently enjoying one of its strongest seasons in decades. The 2014/15 competition over summer has attracted a record turnout of three women's teams and five men's teams, and, working in conjunction with the Bay of Islands College competition, has produced eight junior sides whose players have been given the opportunity to go on and play at higher levels.

Sport Northland's Ryan Maraki put the kudos for the latest upward trend firmly down to the hard work and canny networking by organisers Mel and Del Rameka, a couple who are well respected throughout the Mid North sporting community.

"Like many sporting groups or organisations, the success of the sport and/or club is directly related to the people involved. When there are a motivated group of individuals involved, the administration of the sport is usually competent. Successes off the court are as important as those on the court. No [good] administrators equals no sport opportunities."

He noted the local competition was established 2010/11 and, at the time, attracted approximately 10 teams, while the KBA also had teams entered in the provincial Super 6 competition. The following year, administrators at the time decided not to offer the local competition and the game dropped off the radar, along with representation in the Super 6.

Over the 2012/13 summer, the Ramekas took on the role and the tournament eventually attracted approximately 20 youth and 50 adult participants. The pair ran a competition for 10 weeks and saw five young players go on to make the Te Tai Tokerau team. The competition grew even larger the following 2013/14 season, this time featuring an estimated 30 youth and more than 70 adults, while 27 juniors from Kaikohe, and 38 from the wider area represented the KBA at the national age group champs.

"So how have they made it work?" Maraki asked rhetorically. "Mel and Del have children involved in basketball so they started in the schools, firstly by coaching, secondly by opening training nights up to the young basketball community.

"They invited their basketball contacts to participate in the local competition and worked closely with other basketball competitions, travelling to other tournaments with the aims of giving their players exposure to other talent, and to also make others aware of the competition in Kaikohe."

He noted competition fees were affordable to all but not free - which ensures participation is encouraged along with the will to compete - while holiday programmes have been offered and attract more than 50 kids, promoting the sport in the town not only to children but also to parents.

Next season (2015/16), Mel aims to revive a Kaikohe-based side to return to the Super 6 series, Maraki said, with the plan being cater to interest from the Mid to the Far North. The competition features teams from all over Northland, and the presence of a local side in the Super 6 will once again effectively open up a pathway for Far North players from junior to senior levels and beyond.

FOOTNOTE: It seems unlikely the Far North will be represented in the provincial basketball series which starts next month (rather than running either side of the Christmas/ New Year break which it has done in the past). Last year, two Muriwhenua teams took part in the Whangarei-based competition, the men's Super 6, and the women's Triple T series, but one local player from Kaitaia noted that seemed unlikely now due to a changed and shortened format, and through a general perception that Whangarei teams disliked having to travel to Kaitaia. Meanwhile, organisers of the 2015 Super 6 series said registrations were still open and hoped Far North teams would again take part.